A group of 34 editors have demanded revocation of recent judicial orders, including an arrest warrant against journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak and directives to remove news content from online portals, as violations of press freedom and misuse of legal authority.

The Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant for Pathak under the Electronic Transactions Act following a complaint by Jaiveer Singh Deuba, son of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

The complaint pertained to a YouTube episode titled “Jaiveer Deuba’s money in Hilton!” which alleged financial misconduct involving Deuba. Pathak has questioned the appropriateness of using the Electronic Transactions Act in this context, suggesting that the Press Council Nepal should have been the appropriate body to address such issues.

In a joint statement, the editors expressed concern that the warrant was issued without providing Pathak an opportunity to respond, violating principles of natural justice. They also criticised the use of the Electronic Transactions Act, a law primarily intended to address cybercrimes, in a case involving journalistic content.

The editors called for the immediate withdrawal of the arrest warrant and urged the government to amend the Electronic Transactions Act to prevent its misuse against journalists. They emphasised the importance of protecting press freedom and ensuring that journalists can perform their duties without fear of legal repercussions.

This incident has sparked a broader debate about the balance between protecting individuals from defamation and safeguarding the rights of journalists to report freely. Media organisations and press freedom advocates are closely monitoring the situation, highlighting the need for clear legal frameworks that respect both freedom of expression and the protection of reputations.

The editors also criticised recent court orders directing online news portals, including nepalkhabar.com and bizmandu.com, to remove specific news content.