KATHMANDU, March 12: The Supreme Court and courts across the country have seen a slight increase in the number of case verdicts compared to previous years, but the implementation of judgments remains as weak as ever.
The delayed execution of judgments has resulted in outstanding fines of over Rs 32 billion and a life sentence totaling 125,000 years. The President received the Supreme Court’s annual report on Tuesday, which stressed the persistent problem of implementing its rulings.
Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut submitted the annual report to President Ramchandra Paudel, as per constitutional provisions. The report provides details on judicial and other administrative activities for the fiscal year 2023/24.
The report highlights that the number of sentences and fines continues to rise because not all state bodies are active in implementing judgments. This reflects the ineffective implementation of court verdicts.
The Supreme Court's annual report shows that, like the previous year, the number of sentences and fines has increased. Last year, courts collected only 33 percent of the total sentences. The remaining sentences have been added to this year's figures, with a total of 114,637 years of imprisonment still to be enforced, a task that remains difficult.
Clear dues to milk and sugarcane farmers
Similarly, the amount of fines has risen. Delays in collecting fines imposed by the court have led to this increase. District courts have collected only 28 percent of the total fines accumulated over the years. Currently, Rs 3.21 billion remains to be collected from various individuals as fines.
The Supreme Court stated, "The court has not implemented some decisions, directive orders, and verdicts for years." It added, "Although we have adopted various strategies through strategic planning to improve the effectiveness of judgment enforcement, we have not achieved the expected results. Therefore, we must adopt strategies such as special campaigns."
The Supreme Court's report shows that only 5 out of 180 public interest petitions have been implemented.
The report also states that the concerned authorities coordinated for the collection of fines. Additionally, it highlights that the government has been informed about the lack of a judicial police system at district courts, which is necessary to make the implementation of verdicts more effective.
The report mentions that the relevant service-providing agencies received the details of individuals who have been penalized or fined to restrict their access to government services, but the implementation has not taken place.
The Supreme Court stated, "The state has not adopted a policy to collect fines when providing services or benefits." It further added, "Although we allocated a separate budget for the immediate release of incentive funds to collect fines and sentences, distribution has not been possible due to a budget shortfall and the lack of additional funds from the Ministry of Finance."
The Supreme Court has suggested that the implementation of judgments cannot be achieved through the court's efforts alone and should be managed gradually through the executive bodies of the state. The report recommends organizing and structuring the court's district branches under a decision enforcement directorate to ensure the implementation of verdicts.
162,000 cases remain unresolved
Courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, have 162,000 unresolved cases. Currently, the Supreme Court has 25,728 unresolved cases, while high courts have 25,225. District courts have the highest number of unresolved cases, with 110,026 cases pending nationwide. Compared to previous years, the number of case verdicts has increased in the fiscal year 2023/24, leading to a slight reduction in the overall number of cases in the courts.
The report states that the judiciary's efforts alone cannot address the problems and challenges experienced in the context of reform programs and public expectations. It emphasizes that only through the cooperation, coordination, and positive thinking of all concerned can this be achieved.
The report clarifies that building a just society is the state's primary responsibility and that the success or failure of the justice system should not be seen solely from the judiciary's perspective. It also highlights the need for adequate resources, management of the growing workload in the courts, and the implementation of judgments in the fifth five-year strategic plan.
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