‘No Not Again’ is a means of expressing citizens’ views, don’t stop it: SC
It has directed the Election Commission (EC) not to take any action against such campaigns until they violate the applicable laws, describing the campaign as a way for citizens to express their freedom of opinion and expression.
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered that ‘No Not Again’ not be stopped as it is a way for citizens to express themselves.
It has directed the Election Commission (EC) not to take any action against such campaigns until they violate the applicable laws, describing the campaign as a way for citizens to express their freedom of opinion and expression.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the EC’s notification on 2079 Kartik 8 (25 Oct, 2022) against ‘No Not Again’ should not be implemented immediately. The EC was asked to respect citizens’ freedom of opinion and expression in a three-page interim order issued on Thursday and made public on Friday.
The order of the joint bench of judges Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushma Lata Mathema stated, “No Not Again is an important condition for freedom of thought and expression as well as the right to vote effectively.” Do not act in accordance with the EC’s press release dated 2079 Kartik 8 (25 Oct, 2022), for the sake of convenience and balance.
Following the establishment of democracy, some young people launched a campaign called ‘No Not Again’ against representatives and candidates who had been elected multiple times but did not work in the best interests of the people. The EC issued instructions to close such groups and pages after they campaigned against voting for party leaders and candidates by specifying their names and photos.
The Commission had warned that such group operators would face action under the Electronic Transactions Act and the Election Offenses and Punishment Act.
Despite the fact that the EC corrected its notice within a few days, Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi filed a writ petition in the SC claiming that the EC’s notice violated citizens’ freedom of thought and expression.
On Thursday, the SC, which had initially issued a short-term interim order, continued it from a joint bench. It is stated in the said order to respect the views and expressions that citizens are permitted to express during the election.
