The National Assembly on Monday, February 10, passed the Media Council Bill-2080. 

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, tabled the motion to pass the bill along with a report from the Committee for Legislation Management. The bill was unanimously endorsed by the Upper House, according to the state-owned news agency, RSS.  

Addressing lawmakers' concerns prior to the endorsement, Minister Gurung stated that the bill aims to enhance the autonomy of the Media Council. 

The bill was initially registered in April last year by then Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, with the goal of revising and integrating laws related to the Media Council. It was formally presented in the Upper House on May 26.  

The bill, according to the government, aims to transform the existing Press Council into the Media Council, establishing it as a more competent and independent body. However, stakeholders have raised concerns that the bill could be another attempt by the government to curtail press freedom.

(With inputs from RSS)