The Patan High Court on Wednesday issued an interim order directing police not to arrest or detain Kishor Shrestha, chairman and editor of Jana Aastha Prakashan, over a news article published in his weekly newspaper.

A single bench of judge Achyut Kuikel ordered the District Police Range, Lalitpur, not to arrest, detain, or exert pressure on Shrestha until a final decision is reached on the prohibition petition filed by the editor.

The order follows a complaint lodged with the Press Council Nepal over a news report titled “Improve yourself Madam, there is still time”, published in Jana Aastha on August 12. Fearing possible arrest while the Press Council was reviewing the complaint, Shrestha had moved the High Court seeking a writ of prohibition.

In its ruling, the High Court noted that the matter was already under consideration by the Press Council and remained unresolved.

The court highlighted that constitutional guarantees of freedom of opinion and expression, the right to communication, and precedent set by prior Supreme Court rulings justified the issuance of the interim order.

The High Court has given the District Police Range, Lalitpur, 15 days to submit a written response regarding Shrestha’s petition.