Kathmandu – The judicial system has been brought to a near standstill after the destruction of the Supreme Court, Kathmandu District court, and Special court. In the incident, a large portion of court files and documents were reportedly burnt, causing severe disruption to ongoing and pending cases.
At present, the Supreme Court has limited its operations exclusively to hearing habeas corpus petitions, ensuring that urgent cases related to personal liberty are addressed despite the crisis. Other regular judicial proceedings have been indefinitely postponed, until the next notice.
Officials have stated that all courts within the Kathmandu Valley are expected to resume normal operations only after the Dashain festival, once temporary arrangements are made and reconstruction efforts begin. Until then, litigants, lawyers, and the general public will face delays in accessing justice.
The loss of judicial records is expected to have long-term impacts on case management and the legal system at large. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage while exploring ways to restore essential services and safeguard the remaining documentation.