BUTWAL: The Lumbini Province government has drafted a communication bill to control the freedom of the press, contrary to the spirit and letter of the constitution.

The bill places special emphasis on penalties. The draft bill has been endorsed by the Council of Ministers and sent to the House for discussion.

The bill is scheduled to be registered in the House on Sunday.

The proposed bill provides for the formation of a media council with a minister as its chairman.

The majority of the members will also be the secretaries of the ministry. The bill also proposes to stop the registration and renewal of the media if it disobeyed the orders and directives of the government.

This includes the provision of imprisonment from 6 months to one year with a fine.

The bill stipulates that the media will be shut down if it publishes and broadcasts news on issues prohibited by the state.