Apr 20, Kathmandu - The Labor Court has issued an order directing Gorkha Media Network Pvt. Ltd., including then-chairman GB Rai and other executives, to immediately pay overdue wages and benefits owed to their employed journalists. The court’s decision affirms the labor office’s earlier directive to recover unpaid salaries for journalists who worked for Galaxy Fourke Television.

The court’s ruling was issued in favor of 94 journalists, represented by lawyer and journalist Basu Khadka, who filed a complaint. The bench, led by Chairperson Janak Pandey and Member Shailendra Kumar Chaurasiya, upheld the labor office’s decision to recover the unpaid wages from the company’s management.

Journalist Khadka stated that this verdict opens the door for victims of Galaxy 4k Television to seek justice, as many journalists had not received their salaries for over a year, from the station’s closure in Jestha 2080. The journalists had demanded their rightful pay, benefits, medical expenses, and contributions to social security.

“The court has ordered the recovery of unpaid salaries and benefits from Galaxy 4k Television’s management, including President GB Rai and Director Kumar Ramtel,” Khadka said. He added that while the labor office had calculated the dues, the final verdict on compensation, fines, interest, and damages remains pending.

The affected journalists first approached the labor court on Ashad 10, 2082 (June 24, 2025). Alongside Khadka, journalists Ravi Shrestha, Pramendra Kumar Shrestha, Ram Tamang, Dhan Krishna Bade, Bine Banjara, Dipendra Thapa Magar, Shikha Shrestha, Sharad Luintel, Angraj Nyuapane, Pawan Poudel, Sameer Timsina, and Nawaraj Pandey filed the case.

In their petition, the journalists highlighted the mental health toll and hardship of working without pay, especially on an empty stomach. The employment office had instructed Gorkha Media to settle the dues, but the final judgment on additional damages and compensation remains pending.

Gorkha Media is currently not operational. Its key officials, including President Gitiendra Babu Rai, are absconding in a cooperative fraud case. Rabi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was once the managing director of Gorkha Media.

The journalists are seeking their unpaid wages and benefits from management, even if recovered from Rai or other officials.