KATHMANDU: A dedicated web portal for the Constitutional Bench has been launched at the Supreme Court to ensure timely resolution of constitutional disputes and to enhance transparency and accountability in the judiciary.
Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla inaugurated the portal at a programme held in Kathmandu today.
Speaking at the launch, Acting CJ Malla said the initiative aims to strengthen the Constitutional Bench, safeguard the Constitution, and promote transparency in judicial processes.
“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,” she said.
At present, more than 282 cases are pending at the Constitutional Bench, with some dating back over eight years. Of these, 73 cases are over five years old, the Supreme Court shared.
Malla noted that while some case files have been lost due to incidents like fire, the Bench is proceeding cautiously.
“We are working to end the practice of adjournments due to reasons such as ‘unable to review’ or ‘lack of time.’ To make the Constitutional Bench more systematic, it has now been ensured that the Bench will convene at least twice a week,” she said.
The Acting CJ emphasized that the initiative not only seeks to expedite cases but also aims to clarify constitutional ambiguities and provide clear guidance to State institutions.
“In a democracy, respect for the people’s mandate is paramount. Questions over the legitimacy of elected representatives should not remain unresolved for years. A plan will be put forward to prioritize all election-related disputes and deliver final verdicts in a timely manner. A verdict issued after the expiry of a term holds no meaning,” she said.
She also announced a plan to resolve at least one-third of sub-judice cases within the next three months, while addressing jurisdictional issues between federal and provincial governments cooperatively rather than confrontationally.
Malla pledged that the Bench will continue reviewing laws to ensure their consistency with the Constitution. Highlighting the importance of public trust, she said,
“It is not enough to deliver justice; people must be able to clearly see that justice is being served.”
She expressed support for live streaming important hearings to make constitutional debates more accessible to the public. Noting current technical limitations, she added that a task force will be formed to develop a broader system for implementation.
“We have practiced live streaming in key verdicts, but proper infrastructure is lacking. The task force will establish a system to gradually expand this to other benches,” Acting CJ Malla said.
She also reaffirmed her commitment to digitizing judiciary services, including online case registration, digital payments, virtual hearings, and online access to verdicts, in line with the judiciary’s five-year strategic plan.
Dr. Nahakul Subedi, Supreme Court Justice and IT Committee Coordinator, described the portal launch as a significant step toward modernizing the judiciary.
“We are exploring ways to make services more accessible to justice seekers, legal professionals, and the public through digital technology, including live streaming and online payment systems,” he said.
Chief Registrar Bimal Paudel added that the newly launched portal will provide comprehensive information on the Constitutional Bench and enhance overall judicial transparency.
“The portal allows users to virtually access the entire case process, including proceedings, orders, and judgments, all on one platform,” he said.
Gaurinath Koirala, Head of the IT Division at the Supreme Court, explained that the portal has been developed as a dedicated application within the Supreme Court’s portal, incorporating all information related to the Constitutional Bench.
Currently, 27,147 cases are pending at the Supreme Court, including 282 cases at the Constitutional Bench.
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 the authority to settle disputes about jurisdiction among federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as adjudicate election-related disputes and cases concerning the disqualification of members of parliament and provincial assemblies.
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