PM Balen orders ban on video & photo recording at PM’s office premises

KATHMANDU: Access for media personnel to capture video footage was reportedly restricted outside the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar shortly before a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

According to journalists present at the scene, security personnel tightened restrictions on video journalists who were filming from outside the office premises after instructions were allegedly given by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who arrived to attend the Cabinet meeting.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction upon noticing media personnel filming outside the building and gestured toward security officials.

Shortly after his entry into the office, security personnel reportedly instructed journalists to leave the area immediately and prohibited further video recording from the location.

The incident has raised concerns among media professionals and press freedom advocates, who argue that preventing journalists from covering publicly significant government activities undermines the principles of free press and the right to information.

Media stakeholders have stated that any obstruction to journalistic work within a major government administrative center sets a worrying precedent for transparency and democratic accountability.