Supreme Court seeks government explanation over newspaper tender ban
Summary
The Supreme Court has asked the government to explain the amendment to the Public Procurement Act that bars government agencies from publishing tender notices in newspapers and requires them to post them only on their websites. Petitioners say the change violates media freedom and the constitution, while the court declined to issue an interim order blocking it.
Key Points
- A five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court issued a show-cause order to the government over the amended Public Procurement Act.
- The amended law bars government agencies from publishing tender notices in newspapers and requires them to post them only on their websites.
- Petitioners argued the restriction violates Article 19 of Nepal’s constitution and could damage the financial viability of newspapers.
- The dispute follows earlier Supreme Court action striking down the government’s one-door advertising policy and a separate government decision to route notices through state-owned media.
