BICMA forms tribunal (Media)

Thimphu, February 07: After severe tussle with the media houses, the Bhutan InfoCom and Media Authority (BICMA) has announced the formation of a tribunal to look into complaints.

In a notice the media regulatory body said that Bhutan InfoCom and Media Appellate Tribunal has been established as per section 198 of the Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Act, 2006.

BICMA said, the presiding officer of the Appellate Tribunal is a retired or sitting high court judge, with two other members, who are well versed in the field of ICT, law or administration, as per the provision in the Act.

The agency has asked anyone who is aggrieved by its order to file an appeal for review.

The journalists have challenged the continuing interference of the BICMA into media matters. The latest instances are the interrogation of Kuensel journalists and fining Bhutan Broadcasting Service for criticizing Information Minister Nanda Lal Rai. Bhutan News Service