KATHMANDU: Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma has issued a 21-point directive to chief judges of high courts and chief judges of district courts, urging them to uphold integrity and improve the quality of judicial service delivery.
The directive emphasizes the need for judges and court officials to work with dedication, accountability, diligence and honesty to maintain public confidence in the judiciary.
Stating that citizens expect fair, impartial, speedy and effective justice, Sharma stressed the importance of ensuring good governance within the judicial system and preserving public trust in the courts.
He also highlighted the growing need for state institutions to promote good governance and improve public service delivery through the effective use of technology.
The Chief Justice called for the effective implementation of the judiciary’s Fifth Strategic Plan and the crisis management action plan formulated following incidents that occurred on September 8 and 9 last year, saying these initiatives should serve as key instruments for institutional reform.
Among the major directives are measures to reduce the backlog of cases, improve case-flow management, strengthen hearing schedules and bench management, and adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward irregularities, misconduct and corruption.
The directive also calls for strengthening governance reporting systems, establishing effective complaint-handling mechanisms, improving citizen charters and information services, and ensuring more service-oriented behavior toward court users.
Sharma further instructed courts to expand the use of information technology, including online hearings, video conferencing and live streaming, while institutionalizing automated hearing and scheduling systems to enhance transparency and efficiency.
The directive also emphasizes speeding up judgment writing and implementation, ensuring victim-friendly justice and compensation mechanisms, promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution, and improving access to justice.
In addition, judges have been directed to maintain close oversight of witness testimonies, evidence examination and case proceedings, while ensuring financial discipline, transparent budget expenditure and high standards of professional conduct among judicial personnel.
The Chief Justice said special attention should also be paid to attendance, security and measures aimed at strengthening public confidence in the judiciary.
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