Chief Justice Sharma Pushes Nepal’s Courts Toward Faster, Tech-Driven Justice

Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma is putting speed at the center of Nepal’s judicial reform push, arguing that public trust depends on how quickly the courts can deliver justice. During his visit to the High Court Pokhara Baglung Bench, he called for the elimination of pending cases through the wider use of modern technology and a more efficient court system.

His remarks reflect a growing urgency inside the judiciary, where delays have long been one of the biggest complaints from citizens. Sharma stressed that the courts must not only function, but function faster, with better tools and tighter processes that reduce friction for both judges and litigants.

A push for zero backlog

Sharma’s message was straightforward: the judiciary should aim for zero pending cases. That goal is ambitious, but it signals a clear shift toward a results-driven court system where backlog reduction is not just a priority, but a benchmark of institutional credibility.

He emphasized that speedy justice is essential to maintaining public confidence. In practical terms, that means rethinking how cases are filed, assigned, reviewed, and resolved, with technology playing a central role in making those steps more efficient.

Technology as the next judicial upgrade

The Chief Justice’s comments suggest that the courts are expected to lean more heavily on digital systems to handle caseloads, streamline workflow, and reduce delays caused by manual procedures. Modern tech can help courts track cases more accurately, improve scheduling, and speed up administrative tasks that often slow down hearings.

For a judiciary facing long-standing bottlenecks, the technology angle is more than a convenience. It is becoming part of the reform strategy itself, with digital tools positioned as a way to make justice feel more accessible, predictable, and timely.

Inspecting the courts on the ground

During the visit, Sharma also reviewed the physical infrastructure and judicial processes of the courts in the region. That matters because court reform is not only about software and systems. It also depends on whether court buildings, staffing, and daily operations are equipped to support faster case handling.

By assessing both the facilities and procedures, Sharma appears to be linking courtroom modernization with broader institutional readiness. In other words, faster justice requires both modern tools and a courtroom environment built to use them effectively.

Why this matters

The Chief Justice’s remarks land at a time when many court systems around the world are under pressure to do more with less. In Nepal, the demand is especially clear: reduce delays, improve trust, and make justice feel less distant for ordinary people.

If Sharma’s push translates into real operational change, it could mark an important step toward a more efficient and digitally enabled judiciary. For now, the message from Pokhara and Baglung is unmistakable: the future of Nepal’s courts is expected to be faster, smarter, and far less tolerant of delay.