KATHMANDU December 7

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order to the government not to discontinue BBC Nepali Service. Nepal Forum of Environment Journalist (NEFEJ), mother organization of Radio Sagarmatha, had filed writ petition on December 2, 2005.

The writ petition filed by Bhupendra Basnet, General Secretary of NEFEJ had argued that the letter from the Ministry of Information directing Radio Sagarmatha not to broadcast BBC Nepali service. The decision was issued by joint bench comprised of Hon. Justices Khil Raj Regmi and Damodar Prasad Sharma.

Advocates Subash Chandra Nemwang, Satish Krishna Kharel, Agni Kharel, Bhimarjun Acharya and Raju Chapagain had pleaded from the NEFEJ side. Attorney General Pawan Kumar Ojha and attorneys Pushpa Koirala and Tika Hamal had pleaded as defendants from the government side.

The court order said that, "as the court sees no legal ground and basis to stop Radio Sagarmatha from re-broadcasting BBC Nepali Service, it issues interim order to the government until the final verdict ."

BBC Nepali Service that was stopped being broadcast from November 27 will now resume its broadcasting from today.