Dr. Sharma unveils judicial reform plan, 18-month case target

KATHMANDU: Proposed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma has unveiled his vision and action plan for comprehensive reform of the judiciary while appearing before the Parliamentary Hearing Committee of the Federal Parliament.

He pledged to resolve court cases within 18 months and fully base judicial appointments on a merit-based system. He also emphasized the maximum use of information technology to eliminate delays in judicial proceedings.

According to him, an electronic tracking system will be introduced to monitor the entire judicial process—from case registration to final verdict.

He further proposed the establishment of specialized benches or dedicated tribunals to ensure speedy hearings of infrastructure development and tax revenue-related cases.

Dr. Sharma’s action plan includes a reform-based case management system aimed at disposing of cases within 18 months. He also proposed making the judge appointment process under the Judicial Council Nepal more transparent and dispute-free by introducing objective criteria.

He said judges will be appointed strictly on the basis of qualifications, competence, and judicial integrity as defined by the Constitution and law, along with a fixed timetable to ensure timely appointments.

For judicial capacity building, he proposed collaboration with universities and reforms in the curriculum of the National Judicial Academy to provide skill-based training.

To ensure easy access to justice, he committed to implementing a victim-friendly justice system with compensation provisions. He also vowed to eliminate corruption and irregularities in the judiciary, ensuring the highest standards of judicial governance, accountability, and integrity.

He added that progress on the implementation of his reform plan will be made public every two months through the website of the Supreme Court of Nepal for citizens and stakeholders.

Dr. Sharma also expressed expectation of support from the legislature and executive in terms of lawmaking and resource management, stating that his main responsibility will be to strengthen public trust through fair, impartial, and quality justice delivery.