KATHMANDU: The anticipated hearing in the minor rape case involving cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has once again been postponed.

This delay, the second in recent weeks, is attributed to a shortage of judges at the Kathmandu District Court.

On September 18, the hearing was initially adjourned for the same reason, and today, the situation repeated itself.

According to Deepak Dahal, the Information Officer of the Kathmandu District Court, only 15 out of the scheduled 30 hearings will proceed today.

He explained that Sandeep’s case was among those postponed because none of the judges present today had been assigned to the court via the lottery system.

Dahal further clarified that the delays in resolving certain cases were exacerbated by the transfer of judges from the Kathmandu District Court to other locations, with their replacements yet to return to duty in Kathmandu.

Despite the Supreme Court’s directive prioritizing the swift resolution of the rape case against Lamichhane, the Kathmandu Court has struggled to expedite proceedings.