Article 19. Right to communication

1) No publication, broadcasting, dissemination, or printing of any news item, editorial, feature article, or other reading, audio, or audio-visual material through any means whatsoever, including electronic publication, broadcasting, and printing, shall be censored.

Provided that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of Acts to impose reasonable restrictions on any act which may undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, nationality of Nepal or the harmonious relations between the Federal Units or the harmonious relations between various castes, tribes, religions or communities, or on any act of treason, defamation or contempt of court or incitement to an offence, or on any act which may be contrary to public decency or morality, on any act of hatred to labour and on any act of incitement to caste-based untouchability as well as gender discrimination.

2) No radio, television, on-line or other form of digital or electronic equipment, press or other means of communication publishing, broadcasting or printing any news item, feature, editorial, article, information or other material shall be closed or seized nor shall registration thereof be cancelled nor shall such material be seized by the reason of publication, broadcasting or printing of such material through any audio, audio-visual or electronic equipment.

Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall be deemed to prevent the making of an Act to regulate radio, television, online, or any other form of digital or electronic equipment, press, or other means of communication.

3) No means of communication, including the press, electronic broadcasting, and telephone, shall be interrupted except in accordance with law.