Kathmandu, March 22: A Supreme Court investigation report has revealed a severe crisis in Nepal’s justice system following widespread attacks on courts during the Gen Z protests on September 9, 2025.
The report, submitted on March 19, states that judges and court staff continue to face serious security risks months after the violence. The situation worsened after a large number of detainees escaped from prisons on the day of the unrest, raising concerns over the safety of judicial personnel.
A committee led by the senior-most Supreme Court Justice Sapana Malla Pradhan conducted the investigation. It documented incidents of arson, vandalism, looting, and stone-pelting across the Supreme Court, high courts, and district courts. The full court has already endorsed the report.
According to the findings, fear and uncertainty persist within the judiciary, affecting both personnel and public confidence in justice delivery. The report warns that access to justice has been directly impacted due to ongoing security concerns.
It also recommends the formation of a dedicated judicial police force to ensure the safety of courts, judges, and staff.
The attacks caused extensive physical and operational damage. A total of 23 courts, including the Supreme Court, three high courts, four benches, a special court, and 14 district courts, were affected. Key infrastructure, including 14 main buildings, 36 courtrooms, and dozens of chambers and residences, was either destroyed or severely damaged.
More than 3,500 IT devices, including computers, laptops, printers, and servers, were destroyed, crippling the judiciary’s digital systems. As a result, court services came to a halt, with hearings temporarily conducted under makeshift tents.
The report notes that although some systems have resumed, full functionality has yet to be restored.
In addition, over 900,000 case files, including historically significant documents, were burned. Thousands of original case records and over 24,000 legal books were also lost, creating major hurdles for ongoing and future cases.
The report warns that the destruction of records has directly affected the constitutional right of citizens to access justice. Recovery of lost documents remains a major challenge.
The Supreme Court is set to submit the report to the President, including details of the September 10 destruction in its annual report.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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