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🇳🇵 Nepal /Crime & Justice

High Court orders police not to arrest journalist Kishor Shrestha

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Patan High Court in Nepal issued an interim order preventing police from arresting journalist Kishor Shrestha.
  • The order protects Shrestha, editor of Jana Aastha Prakashan, until a final decision on a prohibition petition.
  • The court cited freedom of expression and ongoing Press Council Nepal review of a complaint against Shrestha's newspaper.

A journalist in Nepal has received a temporary reprieve from potential arrest. The Patan High Court issued an interim order on Wednesday, directing police not to detain Kishor Shrestha, chairman and editor of Jana Aastha Prakashan.

The order comes after Shrestha filed a petition seeking protection from arrest. He feared detention over a news article published in his weekly newspaper, "Improve yourself Madam, there is still time," which appeared on August 12. The complaint was lodged with the Press Council Nepal.

Justice Achyut Kuikel's bench noted that the Press Council was already reviewing the complaint. The High Court emphasized constitutional guarantees of freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to communication. It also referenced previous Supreme Court rulings to justify the interim order.

The court has given the District Police Range, Lalitpur, 15 days to submit a formal response to Shrestha's petition. Until a final decision is made, Shrestha remains protected from arrest, detention, or any form of pressure related to the published article.

Improve yourself Madam, there is still time

— Jana AasthaTitle of the news report published in Jana Aastha that led to the complaint.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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