Supreme Court Halts Kathmandu District Court Split Proposal

Kathmandu. The suggestion to divide the Kathmandu District Court, burdened by 50,000 cases and a daily rush of 5,000 service recipients, into three parts has been halted at the Supreme Court. If the study report of the Supreme Court is implemented, citizens of Kathmandu will have to visit different designated locations (benches) according to their 'ward' to get justice.

The Supreme Court's study report had pointed out the need to expand the court's jurisdiction for the service recipients' access to justice. The report, prepared by a nine-member committee led by Supreme Court Justice Dr. Nahakul Subedi, is currently under discussion on how to implement it.

The committee led by Justice Subedi included Supreme Court Justice Binod Sharma, former Chief Registrar Devendra Raj Dhakal, Supreme Court Registrar Man Bahadur Karki, former Joint Secretary of the Judicial Council Ashok Kumar Kshetri, Kathmandu Court Judge Kamal Prasad Pokharel, Joint Attorney General Govinda Khanal, Secretary of the Nepal Bar Association Nirbhay Raj Poudel, and former President of Kathmandu Bar Ramchandra Poudel (RC Bimal).

The committee has provided various options. The report submitted by the committee is currently being studied at the Supreme Court.

Regarding the expansion of the court's jurisdiction, Supreme Court Senior Registrar and Assistant Spokesperson Niranjan Pandey stated that a law amendment would be required to implement the committee's report immediately.