KATHMANDU, Jan 7: The Gen Z movement held on September 8 and 9 left behind not only political ripples but also deep institutional scars—one of the most severe being within the judiciary. On September 9, the Supreme Court (SC) building was set ablaze, destroying 20,000 out of a total of 24,000 case files. Only 4,000 files were salvaged.
According to the SC, more than 10,000 of the burned files have since been reconstructed, while efforts to retrieve the remaining documents are still underway.
SC Information Officer Nirajan Pandey said that as of January 5, files related to 10,340 cases have been prepared with support from service seekers, various institutions, and the Office of the Attorney General. “Out of the files burned during the Gen Z movement, 10,340 have already been recovered,” he told Republica.
Following the fire, the SC requested the Office of the Attorney General, the Nepal Bar Association, and concerned parties to provide copies of the destroyed files. Accordingly, the collection process is ongoing, Pandey said.
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Reconstructing the 10,340 case files took nearly four months. “From the day of the fire until Sunday, we managed to recover this number of files in about four months,” Pandey said.
He added that service seekers played a crucial role in the retrieval process, alongside legal practitioners and various government agencies. “Our sources for retrieving files are service seekers, legal professionals, and government bodies,” he said, noting that files are also being obtained from the Office of the Attorney General.
However, Pandey said there is no confirmed data on how many of these cases have already undergone hearings. “The data is not certain. Some cases may have been heard, but many are still pending. We are now moving toward verifying the retrieved files,” he said.
According to him, both parties to a case must appear, and verification will be completed only if the documents submitted by each side match. Once verified, cases will proceed through formal judicial processes. Public notices have been issued and procedures developed to facilitate the reconstruction of the burned files, with assistance sought from the bar, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Pandey described the absence of a digital archiving system at the SC as deeply unfortunate. “Basic information such as hearing dates, registration numbers, and the names of plaintiffs and defendants was available, but there was no complete digital copy of the case files,” he said.
Although plans were in place to implement digital archiving starting this year, Pandey said progress has been hampered by a lack of resources and budget.
The destruction of files has also affected case timelines and verdicts. Hearings have been delayed and statutory deadlines extended, as cases cannot move forward until procedural requirements are fulfilled.
“The lack of digital archives has been the main challenge in retrieving the files,” Pandey said. “We are screening whatever documents the concerned parties bring, and only those verified by both sides are accepted.”
He added that the arson incident underscored the urgent need for digitization within the judiciary. “The fire was unimaginable. Had the files been digitized, we could have resumed services immediately, sparing service seekers significant hardship,” he said.
Pandey expressed confidence that the remaining files burned during the Gen Z movement would be retrieved within this month. He urged service seekers to approach the SC or other affected courts promptly if they possess any documents related to their cases.
“If you bring your evidence or case-related documents within this month, your case can enter the regular process,” he said. “Delays could result in cases lapsing, as nothing can be done once the legal deadline has passed.”
