Media Freedom Legal Disputes Nepal 2026

The Patan High Court ordered police not to arrest or detain Kishor Shrestha while it hears his petition over a complaint tied to a Jana Aastha article. The court said the matter was already under Press Council Nepal review and directed police in Lalitpur to respond within 15 days.

Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered journalist Kishore Shrestha released from custody and said he should be investigated while kept outside detention. The court also said editors should not be arrested solely for publishing news and found custody unjustified over a photo already posted publicly on Facebook.

Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered police to return six CPUs and two laptops seized from Jana Aastha’s office and Kishor Shrestha’s residence. The court said he could continue to be investigated outside custody, reinforcing its release order.

The Kathmandu District Court allowed police to keep journalist Kishor Shrestha in custody for four more days for further investigation under the Privacy Act, 2018. The extension came after he was produced following the expiry of his previous detention period.

Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to explain why journalist Kishor Shrestha should not be released after his arrest over an alleged Privacy Act violation. The move came after a habeas corpus petition and extended the legal challenge over press freedom concerns.

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists held a sit-in at the Kathmandu Police Range in Bhadrakali demanding Kishor Shrestha’s immediate release. Journalists and press freedom advocates joined the protest in support of freedom of expression.

The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee condemned Shrestha’s arrest as an attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information. The party joined broader criticism of the case from media and rights groups.

The Nepal Bar Association’s Human Rights and Public Interest Committee demanded Shrestha’s immediate and unconditional release and said disputes over published news should be handled through legal channels. It also warned that blocking access to family and lawyers would violate constitutional rights.

Reports said Kishor Shrestha’s arrest over an alleged privacy violation split opinion, with journalists’ groups denouncing it as a press freedom issue and some individuals supporting accountability. Police continued to hold him in custody.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists demanded the immediate release of Kishor Shrestha after his arrest from his Kusunti residence. The group said the arrest violated press freedom and freedom of expression, and journalists staged a sit-in outside Kathmandu District Police Range.

Police raided the Jana Aastha Saptahik office in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, seized computers and other electronic devices, and held Shrestha at the Kathmandu District Police Range for investigation under the Privacy Act, 2018. The Federation of Nepali Journalists condemned the arrest and called for his unconditional release.

Journalists protested at the Kathmandu Police Range after Kishore Shrestha was arrested from his residence in Lalitpur over a published article. Media groups said the arrest interfered with press freedom and demanded his release.

Police detained Janastha Chief Editor Kishore Shrestha in Kathmandu after arresting him in Lalitpur for investigation into a privacy complaint filed by Deepika Singh. The case was being prosecuted by the Government of Nepal under the Privacy Act.

Police arrested journalist Kishor Shrestha from Kusunti, Lalitpur, on charges of breaching Nepal’s Individual Privacy Act, 2018. He is the editor-in-chief of Jana Aastha and was detained pending investigation.

The constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to record police in public spaces was reaffirmed, clarifying no legal prohibition or prior permission is required, emphasizing police accountability.

Nepal's Supreme Court overturned the government's ban on advertising funds to private media, restoring equal rights for private media outlets to receive public advertisements.

Vehicles linked to the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party blocked media outlets to silence critics, with police failing to intervene without higher orders, sparking condemnation from journalists.

The Nepal Communist Party called on the government to stop interference with media houses and to punish those responsible for intimidating journalists by parking suspicious vehicles at media entrances.

Nepali Congress Chief Whip Wasana Thapa demanded a transparent, impartial investigation into suspicious vehicles parked at media gate entrances, raising concerns about press freedom and media safety.

Government officials in Nepal showed discomfort toward press questioning, raising concerns about undermining democratic accountability and media freedom.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists Japan Chapter announced the FNJ Global Media Conference 2026 to be held in Tokyo on July 25, aiming to unite Nepali journalists worldwide to discuss digital journalism, AI, and press freedom.

Nepali Congress and CPN-UML prepared separate petitions to the Supreme Court challenging provisions of the House Regulations 2026 as unconstitutional, focusing on changes to amendment procedures.

Nepal's Supreme Court scheduled a ruling for June 30 on a petition challenging the government's decision to restrict official advertisements to state media only, seen as weakening freedom of expression.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists launched a National Conference in Kathmandu focusing on press freedom, communication law, and responsible journalism, criticizing government media restrictions.

Information and Communication Minister Dr. Vikram Timilsina stated that press freedom cannot be violated and emphasized the government's commitment to democracy and open dialogue with journalists.

Nepal's government approved the National Advertising Policy 2026 to regulate social media, artificial intelligence, and digital advertising with mandatory self-declaration and consumer protection against misleading advertisements.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah's government faced criticism during its first 100 days for restrictive media policies, including directing public advertising to state media, sparking nationwide protests.

District courts in Nepal issued interim orders removing news, bypassing Press Council Nepal's jurisdiction, prompting media bodies to condemn this as judicial overreach threatening press freedom.