Election Commission Refers Media Outlets, Journalists to Press Council Over Code of Conduct Violations

The Election Commission has written to the Press Council to study, investigate, and take legal action against media outlets and journalists against whom complaints have been filed for violating the Election Code of Conduct, 2082.

The Commission sent a letter to the Press Council Nepal seeking legal action after a complaint was filed alleging that Rabin Prasad Thapaliya, Chairman/Editor, and Chitrakumar (CK) Chaulagain, Managing Editor of Sagarmatha Post Dot Com, operated by Shivapuri Media Network Pvt. Ltd. located in Tarkeshwor Municipality-10, Kathmandu, continuously posted campaign materials for candidates on their personal social media accounts.

The Commission stated that the matter has been sent to the Council for necessary investigation and action according to prevailing laws based on the complaint.

Mohanraj Joshi, Legal Officer at the Commission, stated that the letter was sent to the Council because a complaint was filed alleging continuous posting of candidate campaign materials on personal social media accounts, which violates sub-sections 9(a) and 9(j) of Section 7 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082.

Furthermore, he informed that a clarification has been sought based on a complaint regarding Gorkhapatra Sansthan removing its coordinators for Madhesh and Bagmati provinces. The Commission has written to the institution asking it to submit clarification within two days on this matter.