Supreme Court opens direct grievance channel for complaints against courts

Nepal's Supreme Court has established a direct channel for citizens to lodge complaints against courts nationwide, aiming to enhance accountability and expedite judicial services. The Judicial Governance Centre, formally launched on July 16, fulfills a commitment by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma to create a mechanism similar to the government's 'Hello Sarkar' initiative.

The center has been operational since June 3 and has already received 186 complaints, with 57% successfully resolved. The majority of these, 55%, concern service delivery issues. These include delays in serving notices, late judgments, prolonged preparation of full verdicts, repeated hearing postponements, and difficulties in scheduling or transferring case files.

“

There were many complaints within the court system, but people had nowhere to take them. We brought this centre into operation specifically for service seekers.

Other complaints involve missing files, hearings scheduled on public holidays, court staff delaying appearance dates, and litigants seeking advice after unfavorable decisions. The center has intervened in cases, such as coordinating the reconstruction of a missing file at the Mahottari District Court and ensuring a case was listed for hearing at the Kathmandu District Court after a delay.

However, the center cannot intervene in judicial decisions. In one instance, a complainant challenging a Supreme Court justice's repeated assignment of a case to the same bench was advised to seek legal remedies through a lawyer. Chief Justice Sharma acknowledged the complaints highlight the need for ongoing reform, stating, "People can freely raise complaints about courts without hesitation. We will make every effort to address them."

“

People can freely raise complaints about courts without hesitation. We will make every effort to address them.