Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to allow social media to be used only after registering it.

A nine-member full bench comprising then Chief Justice Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha, Justices Prakash Man Singh Raut, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, Hari Prasad Phuyal, Dr Nahkul Subedi, Binod Sharma, Mahesh Kumar Poudel and Bal Krishna Dhakal passed the order.

Govinda Ghimire, deputy registrar of the Supreme Court, had submitted a report on April 15, 2018, stating that the news, audio and video content published and broadcast by Sidhakura.com amounted to contempt of court.

In the same case, it has been said that social media should be allowed to operate only after registering it. In the case, Directlykura.com publisher Yubaraj Kandel, executive editor Nabin Dhungana and Rajkumar Timilsina were made defendants.

“Just as freedom of mass communication and press is important, it is equally necessary to discourage the dissemination of misinformation,” reads the full text of the judgment, adding, “Just as the state needs to protect the right to freedom of thought and expression and communication, it is also the responsibility of the state to control misinformation such as misinformation, disinformation and goods information.” ’

In the full text of the verdict, it has been said that digital media and social media should also be made responsible and accountable so that the platforms, including domestic or foreign online and social media, are compulsorily registered with the competent body before operation and such unwanted content is evaluated and monitored.

“The Government of Nepal should immediately send a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to discourage the misuse of social media under fictitious names by concealing their true identity, to carry out reliable monitoring by the regulatory body within the scope of the law and to make other necessary arrangements in this regard,” reads the verdict.

Similarly, it has been ordered to write to the Press Council to orient the chief registrar of the court and the media persons associated with the court in this regard to prepare necessary criteria to make the news dissemination work systematic, dignified and effective in order to maintain the dignity, respect, public trust and credibility of the judiciary.

“With the development of technology, the use of electronic media and social media has increased globally. News that is transmitted through electronic means rather than traditional media becomes viral and reaches the general public more quickly,” the court said, adding that YouTube’s visual and audio presents news in an attractive way. The dissemination of misinformation also undermines the citizen’s right to accurate information. ’

The court said that the dissemination of misinformation through such means would hamper the judicial proceedings and also adversely affect the public faith and credibility of the court.