Digital Reform in Nepal Judiciary: Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma Details Smart Court Vision

20th May 2026, Kathmandu

The Nepalese judicial system is on the brink of a historic technological evolution. During his recent confirmation presentation before the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, newly endorsed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma unveiled an ambitious 18-point roadmap aimed at completely upgrading the nation’s courts.

Digital Reform Nepal Judiciary

With a strong focus on transparency, efficiency, and accessibility, Chief Justice Sharma’s vision looks to transition the traditional paper-heavy Nepalese court system into a modern, tech-driven, and highly integrated digital ecosystem.

The 1-Year Blueprint: Building a Fully Integrated E-Court System

At the heart of Chief Justice Sharma’s plan is a strict timeline: integrating all court activities into an advanced IT network within one year. This upgrades the existing, fragmented digital framework to connect every level of the judiciary—from local district courts up to the Supreme Court.

[Case Registration] ➔ [Summons & Tracking] ➔ [Virtual Hearings] ➔ [AI & Digitized Records] ➔ [Final Verdict]

Once implemented, the digital pipeline will track a case through its entire life cycle:

End-to-End Tracking: Automating everything from the initial case filing and digital summons delivery to judgment writing and execution.

Paperless Archiving: Scanning and digitizing both active case files and legacy historical archives, allowing court users to safely access and certify electronic copies from any convenient location.

Virtual Hearings and Live Streamed Trials

To combat geographic barriers and significantly reduce case backlogs, the reform plan expands the use of virtual legal proceedings. Under the new guidelines, multiple pre-trial and trial phases will transition online, including:

• Remand extensions and legal depositions

• Formal statement recordings

• Witness testimonies and expert cross-examinations

• Virtual lawyer arguments

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“To foster public trust and ensure absolute transparency, the master plan introduces the live streaming of court hearings alongside automated audio-to-text conversion systems to instantly document verbal arguments.”

AI Integration and Mobile Alerts for Citizen Access

The proposed tech overhaul introduces Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Nepalese judicial administration. The plan calls for feasibility studies on using AI to streamline research, optimize case management, and manage workflows more efficiently.

To ensure these backend upgrades directly benefit everyday citizens, the plan connects the public directly to court software via two primary channels:

1. The Mobile Citizen App

A dedicated app will act as a personal portal for court users, helping reduce the need for constant, in-person visits to court premises.

2. Real-Time SMS Alerts

Automated text notifications will send instant updates directly to users’ phones regarding:

• Official summons and notice deliveries

• Upcoming hearing dates and schedule changes

• Immediate final verdict announcements

Governance, Anti-Corruption, and Merit-Based Appointments

Beyond software and infrastructure, Chief Justice Sharma’s strategy addresses judicial governance and accountability. The plan calls for comprehensive digital surveillance systems inside all court facilities to deter middlemen and curb irregularities.

This reporting protocol creates a direct channel, ensuring any flag of misconduct or irregular activity goes straight to the Chief Justice’s office for review.

Furthermore, addressing long-standing public conversations around judicial appointments, Sharma emphasized that future selections within the Judicial Council system must strictly prioritize merit, deep experience, proven ability, and uncompromised judicial integrity.

Summary of Major Reform Milestones

For more: Digital Reform Nepal Judiciary