Human Rights and Peace Society Nepal has said the growing intolerance shown by  Supreme Court (SC) leadership has made it sad and expressed its readiness to stand in the frontline against anything attempting to restrain the press freedom.

In a statement on Monday, the society stated that the SC leadership have shown its intolerance and by presenting itself against the sovereign principles of justice in the recent series of events including contempt of court case against Kantipur Daily.

“Press freedom is the main pillar of democracy and a healthy criticism is its jewels,” said the society general secretary Uttam Pudasaini in the statement. “Peace Society hopes and believes that the honourable court, which is also the guardian of media sector, will not attack press freedom being motivated by prejudice.

The society stated that it has been drawing the attention about judicial independence, impartial and skill and transparency and a delegation of the society had met Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli on July 13, 20017 for the same.

The statement noted the society has been working for press freedom since its establishment and has also been supporting the agitations organised to condemn the attack against press in the past.

The society said that it is sensitive towards protecting the self respect of the justices and honour of court.

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Earlier on Sunday, Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli on Sunday had issued an interim order directing the Press Council to probe news reports published by Kantipur daily that highlighted discrepancies in his birth date mentioned by him in official documents.

The Supreme Court had ordered Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Publications Kailash Sirohiya, Director Swastika Sirohiya, Kantipur daily Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and journalist Krishna Gyawali to appear in person before the court within three days of receiving the order.

It had also ordered the Press Council to investigate the matter and ensure news against CJ Parajuli are not published again.