KATHMANDU, April 7: A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court seeking its intervention to avail government support to media, farmers and students at a time when they are facing crisis due to the lockdown imposed by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nepal.

Stating that the media sector would face financial crisis if the government did not extend its support, the petition filed on Monday demanded fair share of advertisement and other financial facilities to the private media which the government has been providing to the state-owned media. The petitioners argued that the apex court needs to take a stance in order to protect the fourth pillar of the state when they are facing dire problems.

Advocates duo Ananta Raj Luitel and Pratibha Uprety filed the petition. They also sought for special legal arrangement for these sectors during such difficult times. The petitioners also sought online education system to ensure right to education; and relief packages to the farmers.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the National Planning Commission have been named as the defendants in the petition.

Arguing that if farmers could not produce food the entire nation would face starvation in the coming days, the petitioners sought Supreme Court's order to the authorities concerned to provide seeds, pesticides and tax rebate to the farmers. They also sought for fixing of prices of the farmers' produce and also asked to lunch employment program for the youths who have returned from various countries.

 
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