Courts Deliver Key Rulings on Press Freedom and online expressions in Nepal
This week marked a significant moment for press freedom in Nepal, with two major court cases drawing national attention. On June 19, 2025, the Patan High Court
extended an earlier interlocutory interim order of June 16 protecting senior journalist Dil Bhushan Pathak from arrest. The court emphasized that any action, if necessary, should follow the Press Council Act, recognizing Pathak’s status as a professional journalist. In a parallel development, the Kathmandu District Court
dismissed an injunction filed by Securities Board Chair Santosh Narayan Shrestha against Bizmandu and Nepal Khabar, which had sought the removal of news content and a future publishing ban. The court also overturned a prior order to remove published news and bar future reporting on Shrestha. The initial takedown order had sparked protests from journalist groups, citing violations of constitutional press freedoms.
Reaffirming its strong commitment to advocating for press freedom, safeguarding civic space, and promoting democratic values in Nepal, Digital Rights Nepal (DRN) provided legal aid in these both cases.
The details of these cases were covered in the last edition of the Digital Rights Weekly.
Hacker Group Defaces Government Website, Exposes Cybersecurity Gaps
The official website of Nepal’s Department of Water and Meteorology was defaced on June 14 morning by a hacker group calling itself “MidNight Ops Nepal.” The group replaced the site’s page content with messages mocking the government’s security, including: “HAHAHA UR SECURITY SUCKS !!!” and “Your Democracy has been hacked.” The hackers also shared their Telegram link and contact email, claiming the attack was a non-destructive demonstration to expose vulnerabilities in Nepal’s outdated and poorly secured digital infrastructure. They stated no data was stolen or internal systems damaged. The incident adds to a growing number of cyberattacks on government websites, raising urgent concerns about Nepal’s cybersecurity preparedness.
Multiple Arrests by Cyber Bureau for Online Content Allegedly Violating Public Morality
This week, the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police arrested several individuals for publishing content on social media deemed to violate public morality and decorum. On June 16, 36-year-old Resham Raj Paudel was arrested in Nepalgunj for repeatedly posting abusive and false content targeting individuals and institutions on platforms including YouTube. He is under investigation under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2006. Similarly, TikTok user Rama Basnet was arrested for spreading hate speech and character assassination content, allegedly inciting ethnic and communal tensions. In another case, the Cyber Bureau filed charges against Sharmila Shrestha (Rai), along with Pasang Tamang of Bishal Khabar and Binita Kunwar Kshetri of Zoom TV Nepal, for allegedly defaming a young woman through a YouTube channel. The case was filed at the Kathmandu District Court on May 27 following a complaint lodged on May 18. All cases are being investigated under the Electronic Transactions Act
Court Issues Show-Cause Notice to RONB Over Misleading Post
The Patan High Court has issued a show-cause order to Routine of Nepal Pvt. Ltd. after law student Bibek Chaudhary filed a contempt of court writ. The case involves a social media post falsely claiming that traffic police can no longer seize vehicle keys during checks. In reality, the court had ruled that key seizure is permitted only in specific unlawful situations. The petitioner alleged that RONB misrepresented the verdict, misled the public, and undermined the judiciary, violating the Administration of Justice Act. The court has demanded a written response within seven days. If found guilty, RONB could face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to NPR 10,000.
Bagmati Province to Digitize and Green Its Transport System
Bagmati Province has announced a major overhaul of its transportation system in the fiscal year 2082/83 budget. All vehicles will be required to use embossed number plates for better identification and security. The province will also legalize and regulate ride-sharing services, expand the Bagmati e-driving license portal, and shift toward environmentally friendly transport by promoting electric vehicles and simplifying their registration. Key tech-driven initiatives include GPS tracking in public transport, cashless payment systems, and smart transport services and integrating driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, and pollution certificates with QR codes. A budget of NPR 50 million has been allocated for this digital transformation.
