KATHMANDU: One hundred and sixty-three complaints have been registered with the Press Council Nepal (PCN) in the first six months of the current fiscal year.

PCN stated that 163 complaints have been registered until the end of Poush (January 14) in the fiscal year 2082/83 BS (2025/26).

PCN joint spokesperson Ram Sharan Bohara said that among the registered complaints, following the correspondence in accordance with the Journalist Code of Conduct, 77 refutations have been issued, 52 responses presented by the respondents have been communicated to the complainants, and 14 apologies/corrections were made.

Similarly, five content materials have been suspended, ten were asked for clarification, five were given instructions and warned, and during this period one media outlet was penalised by being placed on the non-compliance/blacklist.

According to Bohara, 744 contents from 632 media/web portals/social networks have been self-monitored during this period.

“Among the 744 contents are 447 media contents and 185 non-media contents, and based on the severity of violations of the code of conduct, 136 media and 27 non-media have been instructed and cautioned.

For 20 non-media with no contact, an investigation has been conducted and correspondence has been sent to the relevant authority for action,” said a statement issued by spokesperson Bohara on Wednesday.

PCN has stated that while it has been regularly monitoring whether journalists and media outlets comply with the Code of Conduct for Journalists, it has initiated a special monitoring process regarding compliance with the Election Code of Conduct in the context of its implementation.