Nepal’s first Consumer Court, a specialized body to address consumer grievances, is set to begin operations on March 15.

Tabling a notice at the House of Representatives (HoR) on Tuesday, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Kumar Chaurasiya announced that the court would officially commence proceedings this Saturday, according to the state-run news agency RSS.

According to government sources, the Consumer Court will come into operation coinciding with the World Consumer Day this weekend even though it is a public holiday in Nepal.

The Consumer Court has been established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS, with jurisdiction over consumer-related cases in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts. Kathmandu District Court Judge Ram Prasad Sharma has been appointed chairperson, while Gehendra Raj Regmi and Ananda Raj Pokharel, both gazetted second-class officers, have been appointed as members, RSS further reported

Meanwhile, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung proposed sending the Mass Communication Council Bill, 2081 BS—introduced in the National Assembly—to the concerned committee for clause-wise discussion. The bill aims to regulate radio, television, online and digital media, printing presses, and other forms of communication. It envisions the establishment of an autonomous Media Council to promote responsible journalism, according to RSS.

In the same session, Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri presented a proposal for parliamentary discussion on the Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment. Addressing lawmakers’ concerns, he assured that Nepal would effectively implement the amendment to enhance environmental management and mitigate climate change impacts.