Kathmandu — Emphasis has been placed on the need to establish effective mechanisms to control the challenges added to the implementation of the Code of Conduct due to the use of information technology. The first meeting of the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee stressed the need to create special mechanisms to control issues such as misinformation, hate speech, and misleading information disseminated through social media and digital platforms during elections.
Formed in accordance with Clause 26 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 (2025), the committee’s first meeting underscored the need to make the implementation of the Code of Conduct more effective and pointed out the necessity of special mechanisms. The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Election Commissioner Sagun Shamsher Jabara, with the participation of Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Commissioner Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, and other committee officials, according to the Commission’s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.
The meeting discussed inter-agency coordination for the effective compliance and implementation of the Code of Conduct, the role of regulatory bodies as prescribed by prevailing laws, challenges in implementation, and various aspects of control. Members participating in the meeting expressed the view that it would be appropriate to simultaneously advance awareness-based, promotional, and punitive approaches to ensure effective implementation of the Code of Conduct.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari stated that the regulation of social media is an important issue and that the Commission must use all mechanisms effectively. He emphasized that effective mechanisms to prevent the misuse of technology, along with cooperation and coordination with regulatory bodies, investigative agencies, and prosecutorial authorities, are indispensable for the implementation of the Code of Conduct.
Commissioner Dr. Tuladhar said that the Code of Conduct would be implemented after consultations with political parties and noted that the Commission is alert to minimizing misinformation and misleading information disseminated during elections. Committee Chair and Election Commissioner Jabara expressed confidence that, by addressing past shortcomings, qualitative objectives would be achieved in the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct this time.
Stating that effective implementation of the Code of Conduct is necessary to ensure the integrity and fairness of elections, Chair Jabara clarified that the Commission will cooperate with all stakeholders to curb challenges arising from the misuse of information technology. The meeting was attended by officials from the Election Commission, secretaries from various ministries, and heads of security agencies.
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