Kathmandu, — The Supreme Court of Nepal is preparing to file an official complaint with the police, supported by a detailed report of damages caused by the recent fire that destroyed a large portion of judicial records.
Court spokesperson and joint registrar Arjun Prasad Koirala said the complaint will be submitted within a few days following the full court meeting held on Sunday. “We have already decided to register the complaint.
The documentation of losses is in its final stage, and once the report is filed, the police will move forward with legal procedures,” Koirala stated. The fire that broke out at the Supreme Court premises on September 9 (Bhadra 24) destroyed more than 217,000 case files and documents.
Among 24,234 active cases, around 20,000 were completely burned, while approximately 4,000 files were recovered, including writ petitions and pending cases. According to court data, nearly 197,000 archived files stored in the record section were also lost. The incident’s impact extended to high courts and district courts nationwide.
Across the country, around 6,533 active case files, more than 706,000 archived documents, and 4,185 land-related files were destroyed. The fire also damaged or burned 422 vehicles, 1,492 computers, 635 laptops, and 445 CCTV cameras.
“Our immediate priority is to compile verified details of all administrative and technical losses to ensure a clear foundation for the police investigation,” Koirala added. The September 9 fire has intensified calls for stronger record management, digital archiving, and security systems within Nepal’s judiciary.
