Dedicated web portal for Constitutional Bench launched

KATHMANDU: A dedicated web portal for the Constitutional Bench has been launched at the Supreme Court.

Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla inaugurated the portal at a programme held at the Supreme Court today. She said the portal aims to ensure the timely resolution of constitutional disputes and to enhance transparency and accountability in the judiciary.

“The Constitutional Bench is the heart of the federal democratic republic and the final interpreter of the Constitution. Unfortunately, it is currently burdened by heavy caseloads and procedural delays. Our efforts will now focus on making it more active and trustworthy,” Acting CJ Malla said.

Officials said more than 282 cases are pending at the Constitutional Bench, with some dating back over eight years. Of these, 73 cases are older than five years.

Malla noted that some case files have been burned, but said the court is proceeding with caution. “We are working to put an end to the practice of the Bench being adjourned due to reasons such as being unable to review or lack of time,” she said, adding that the Bench will convene mandatorily twice a week to make its work more systematic.

The Acting CJ said the initiative seeks not only to expedite cases but also to address constitutional ambiguities in a timely manner and to provide clear direction to state institutions. “In democracy, respect for the people's mandate is paramount, and questions raised over the legitimacy of elected representatives should not remain unresolved for years,” she observed.

She announced a plan to accord the highest priority to election-related disputes and cases, saying a verdict issued after the expiry of terms holds no meaning. Malla also pledged to resolve at least one-third of the sub judice cases within the next three months and to clarify jurisdictional issues between federal and provincial governments in a spirit of cooperation rather than conflict.

Highlighting the importance of public trust in the judiciary, Malla argued that it is important not only to deliver justice but also to ensure that people can clearly see that justice is being served. She expressed support for live-streaming important hearings to make constitutional debates accessible to the public.

Acknowledging current technical limitations, she said a task force will be formed to develop a system for broader implementation. “We have already practised live streaming in important verdicts, but there are complexities at present due to the lack of proper infrastructure. We will now form a task force to establish a system to expand this more broadly, and it will gradually be expanded to other benches,” Acting CJ Malla said.

Malla said such practices would make judicial proceedings more transparent and accessible to law students, legal professionals and the general public. She vowed to implement the judiciary’s commitment to a technology-friendly system envisioned in its five-year strategic plan and reaffirmed her commitment to digitising services such as online case registration, digital payments, virtual hearings and ensuring online access to verdicts.

Dr Nahakul Subedi, Justice at the Supreme Court and IT Committee coordinator, described the portal launch as a significant step towards modernising the judiciary. He said officials were considering how to make services more accessible to justice seekers, legal practitioners and the public through digital technology, including studies on live streaming and online payment systems.

Chief Registrar Bimal Paudel said the dedicated portal will provide comprehensive information on the Constitutional Bench and enhance overall judicial transparency. He noted that the portal allows users to view the entire case, including proceedings, orders and judgments, on a single platform.

Gaurinath Koirala, head of the IT Division at the Supreme Court, explained that the portal has been developed as a separate application within the Supreme Court’s website, incorporating all information related to the Constitutional Bench.

At present, a total of 27,147 cases are pending at the Supreme Court, including 282 cases at the Constitutional Bench, officials said.

According to Article 137 of the Constitution of Nepal, the Constitutional Bench consists of the Chief Justice and four other judges designated on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. Article 133 gives the Bench authority to settle disputes about jurisdiction among federal, provincial and local governments, and to adjudicate election-related disputes and cases concerning the disqualification of members of parliament and provincial assemblies.

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