Coinciding with the World Consumer Rights Day 2025, Nepal’s first Consumer Court was inaugurated on Saturday, March 15, by Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut. 

The court has been established under Section 44 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2018, to provide legal remedies for consumers facing unfair trade practices and substandard goods or services.  

Established in the premises of the Department of Cottage and Small Industries in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, it will handle cases from the three districts of the Valley in the initial phase. 

Judge Ram Prasad Sharma of Kathmandu District Court has been appointed as the Chairperson, while Gehendra Raj Regmi, an under-secretary from the Judicial Service, and Ananda Raj Pokharel, also an under-secretary from the Administrative Service, have been appointed as its members. The court will officially begin operations on Sunday, March 16.  

Chief Justice Raut emphasized the broad jurisdiction of the Consumer Court, stressing the need to further define its authority for more effective enforcement. “The court must win the trust of consumers by ensuring effective justice delivery,” he said, adding that judicial activism and result-oriented decisions are crucial for establishing the court’s credibility.  

Speaking at the inauguration event, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, stated that the court will promote a fair and competitive market while safeguarding consumer rights.

Describing the Consumer Court as a major milestone in Nepal’s judicial reform, Attorney General Ramesh Badal underscored the need for clarity on the types of cases the court will handle. He identified tampered product expiry dates, misleading advertisements, and digital consumer rights violations as key concerns that the court is expected to address.  

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Welfare, Abdul Khan, noted that Nepal is currently in the implementation phase of consumer rights laws. He emphasized the importance of concrete policies to ensure the effective functioning of the Consumer Court. Additionally, the government has already directed to establish quality testing laboratories at all border checkpoints to strengthen consumer protection efforts, he added.  

(With inputs from RSS)