Nepal Bar Association Rules Administrative Refusal to Register Writ Petitions at Supreme Court Is Beyond Authority

The Nepal Bar Association has determined that the administrative action of refusing to register writ petitions filed in the Supreme Court and leaving them unattended without cause is beyond the authority of the Supreme Court administration. The Bar Association stated that the failure to comply with the order issued by Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla represents an extraordinary and abnormal administrative attitude. It further noted that such conduct is historically significant, recordable, and attracts the application of prevailing laws. Kathmandu, 4 Jestha.

The Nepal Bar Association emphasized that leaving writ petitions unregistered without reason obstructs access to justice. In an emergency meeting held on Monday afternoon, the Bar expressed serious concerns over the administration’s disregard of the order given by the Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla.

“The Nepal Bar Association holds that intentionally withholding writ petitions, which are legally required to be registered by the Supreme Court, without registration is clearly beyond the administrative authority and acts as an obstruction to justice,” stated a press release issued by General Secretary Kedar Prasad Koirala. The Bar also described the administration’s behavior as not only extraordinary and unnatural but also as an act to be historically recorded, which will not fade into oblivion and which invokes the relevant laws in force.

“The administration’s refusal to obey the order issued by the Acting Chief Justice, who carries the ultimate responsibility for judicial administration, is not only extraordinary and unnatural behavior but also an incident worthy of historic documentation and legal attention,” the Bar’s statement further said. The Bar called attention to the administration’s contempt in disobeying the Chief Justice’s directive to register the writ petitions that had been left pending.