KATHMANDU, Oct 28: The blackened walls of the Supreme Court (SC) at Ramshahpath still bear witness to one of the darkest nights in Nepal’s judicial history. Once a solemn symbol of justice, the nation’s highest court now stands scarred—its archives turned to ash, its corridors filled with the smell of burnt paper and charred wood.
In an unprecedented move, the SC has decided to file a formal complaint with the police, seeking action against those who torched and vandalized courts across the country in the aftermath of the Gen-Z movement protests. The decision, endorsed by a full court meeting of all justices on Sunday, marks a rare moment when the judiciary itself turns to the law for redress.
“The process of drafting the complaint is underway,” confirmed Deputy Registrar Nirajan Pandey at. “Decision has already been made to file police complaint. It will likely be filed with the District Police Range, Kathmandu, by Wednesday,” he said.
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SC officials said they won’t name anyone in the complaint as identities are still unverified. The SC will ask police to find those responsible and ensure they face justice.
The complaint, according to officials, will not be filed by the justices themselves but by senior administrative officials—likely the Chief Registrar or Registrars—underscoring the institution’s collective stance rather than personal grievance.
The decision follows the unprecedented arson and vandalism that engulfed judicial institutions nationwide. The SC complex, once bustling with lawyers, litigants and clerks, became a scene of chaos and destruction. The blaze, which raged for nearly three days, reduced to ashes around 20,000 case files under consideration and verdict records from nearly 197,000 concluded cases—a devastating loss for the nation’s legal memory.
Inside the premises, more than 50 vehicles, including those used by judges and staff, were burned beyond recognition. Over 150 motorcycles were destroyed, along with several belonging to lawyers and service seekers who had come to the court that day.
But the destruction was not confined to Ramshahpath alone. The Special Court and Kathmandu District Court also suffered severe damage, while reports from other districts painted a picture of widespread chaos.
For a country that has long prided itself on the independence of its judiciary, the image of the SC in flames struck deep at the national conscience. Now, as it prepares to file its own police complaint, the SC seeks not just accountability for the destruction of its buildings—but a reaffirmation of faith in the very system it represents.
The charred remains of case files may never be recovered. But for many within Nepal’s legal community, the act of seeking justice—however symbolic—marks the first step toward rebuilding what the fire tried to erase: the rule of law itself.
