KATHMANDU, July 13: The Special Court, which has been resolving cases within six months of registration, has been declared a ‘Boutique Smart Court.’ The concept was introduced after the court began expediting cases, particularly those related to corruption and money laundering.
While the word “boutique” typically refers to fashionable clothing and jewelry outlets, in this context, it signals a court that is modern, efficient, and technology-driven.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24, the court resolved 88% of high-priority cases and 60% of all cases by the end of mid-July 2025. In the fiscal year 2023/24, the court successfully settled 88 percent of high-priority cases, and by mid-July 2025, it had resolved 60 percent of all cases."
Looking at the data from the last five years, only 21 percent of cases were settled in FY 2019/20, and just 17 percent in 2020/21. In the following two years, around 43 percent of the cases were resolved. The court, which previously resolved less than 50 percent of high-priority cases, has accelerated its efforts since last year.
Since legal proceedings are typically lengthy, it has taken considerable time to settle cases. However, efforts have now been initiated to transform the Special Court into a model institution. The Special Court Act, 2002, mandates that cases must be resolved within six months. According to Chairperson Kunwar, the law has been fully enforced since last year.
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The court has made arrangements for hearings to be conducted online from anywhere in the country. Cases can now be heard through the respective district courts. Since the Special Court is located solely in Kathmandu and traveling there is often costly for service seekers, provisions have been made to allow witness statements, arguments, and legal representation through the local district courts.
Although this provision was introduced to reduce the expenses and inconvenience for service seekers, many of them from outside the Kathmandu Valley still prefer to appear in person at the court. According to the Special Court, even detainee statements have been recorded virtually from abroad.
In some cases, the high number of defendants has resulted in piles of case files in the court. To address this, the Special Court has begun reducing the use of paper. "We no longer have to carry around bulky files," said Chairperson Kunwar. "We’ve started digitizing case files by scanning them as soon as they are registered." Digital files will also be used in courtrooms, eliminating the need to carry physical documents.
The Special Court has said that negative comments about ongoing cases add further challenges. It expressed concern over unsubstantiated remarks that question the integrity of judges. "If anyone has proof that justice has been sold, we are ready to publish the information and openly debate who gave what to whom," said Chairperson Kunwar.
Focus on verdict implementation
Settling a case alone is not enough. Justice cannot be truly felt unless the verdict is implemented. The court is preparing to accelerate the enforcement of verdicts. A dedicated team has reportedly been formed to study and implement the decisions.
In the FY 2023/24, verdicts amounting to 631 years and 1 month of imprisonment and Rs 40.54 billion in compensation and fines were issued. However, these decisions are not final, as both parties have the legal right to appeal to a higher court if dissatisfied. In cases involving large sums in fines and compensation, appeals are typically filed with the Supreme Court (SC).
The SC has upheld some of these decisions and reversed others. The Special Court claims to have prevented a potential loss of Rs 840 billion in public property during the last FY based on the claims made. It also acknowledged that a lack of sufficient personnel has caused delays in drafting verdicts.
Money laundering cases
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has filed a total of 93 cases so far. Of these, 24 cases have been adjudicated by the Special Court, resulting in prison sentences totaling 169 years and 3 months for 53 defendants. The court determined a total loss of Rs 4.04 billion, and an equivalent amount has been levied in fines. Additionally, assets worth Rs 104.90 million have been confiscated.
ISO-certified court
For the first time, the Special Court has received a certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The certification was awarded by the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) on the grounds that the court demonstrated efficiency in accountability, sustainability, and administrative reform within the judicial system. The certification process was completed through the NBSM, with the main ISO office based in Geneva in Switzerland.
The certification is valid for three years. Special Court Chairperson Kunwar stated that efforts will be made to maintain this certification in the future as well. Director of the Nepal Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Alok Kumar Mishra, remarked that the quality of judicial service cannot be measured in conventional terms. “We don’t conduct audits when it comes to interpreting justice,” he said, explaining that the certification process began after an application was submitted.
