Nepal Labour Court Verdict Favours Sacked Journalist

Media Release: Nepal
April 16, 2012

Nepal Labour Court Verdict Favours Sacked Journalist

The International Federation of Journalists Asia Pacific joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists Nepal (NUJN) in welcoming a verdict from the Kathmandu Labour Court in favour of sacked journalist Ram Prasad Dahal, announced on April 12.

The Labour Court imposed a two month prison sentence and a fine of Rs. 5,000 (approximately USD 60) on Mahendra Sherchan, the Chairman of Utkarsha Publications Pty Ltd, for not enforcing an earlier order of the Court. The verdict is considered historic as it is the first one of its kind in Nepal.
On March 2, 2005, Utkarsha Publications terminated Ram Prasad Dahal, a journalist with the Rajdhani National Daily. Following his sacking, Dahal filed a writ petition with the Court seeking that his employment be continued.

On October 8, 2006 Sherchan was ordered by the court to reinstate Dahal to his post as Chief Reporter/Senior Co-Editor and to pay him compensation after it was found that he had not been dismissed on “valid grounds” in 2005.
In its decision, however, the Court further ruled that Sherchan would not face the punishment if Dahal is reinstated and provided compensation owing him within the month.

Dahal claims that the media house also owes him Rs 200,000 (approximately USD 2,400) in unpaid salary.

Dahal said that he believes he was sacked because of “anti-monarchy sentiments.” “They sacked me as I was against the monarchy during the direct rule of the then King Ganendra Shah,” he said.

“The IFJ welcomes this Labour Court decision that reinforces the rights of journalists to be employed and paid in a manner that is fair and equitable”, IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“However, we are very disappointed that it has taken over eight years, and two court verdicts, to ensure that Mr Dahal’s rights are protected”.

Failure to enforce wage and employment standards continues to be an ongoing issue in Nepal. On January 26, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of Nepal seeking a direction to government to fully implement the intent and regulations of the Working Journalists’ Act – which mandates journalists’ working conditions – in state-owned media organisations.


The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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ENDS

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