Himal Hub/ Nepal’s Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma has called for stronger digital infrastructure to ensure the country’s courts can continue operating during natural disasters and other emergencies.
Speaking at a regional forum on internet governance in Kathmandu, Sharma said reliable and secure digital systems were becoming essential to maintaining access to justice as the judiciary increasingly relies on technology.
His comments follow a series of floods and landslides in Nepal that have damaged telecommunications networks and other public infrastructure, highlighting the vulnerability of digital services during emergencies.
A prolonged disruption to judicial systems could prevent courts from accessing case files and other critical records, Sharma said, underscoring the need for secure digital archives, dependable backups and effective disaster-recovery systems.
Nepal’s judiciary has expanded its use of technology through electronic filing, digital case management, electronic records and technology-assisted hearings. The shift has improved the efficiency and accessibility of judicial services, but has also increased exposure to cybersecurity threats, data loss and system failures.
Cybersecurity Becomes Key Challenge
The judiciary has recently implemented its Judiciary Information and Communication Technology Policy, 2026, which gives greater priority to information security while seeking to promote technological innovation.
For Sharma, digital resilience is not simply a matter of upgrading technology. The ability of courts to maintain services during disruptions is closely linked to citizens’ access to justice, public service delivery and the rule of law.
He also called for greater regional and international cooperation to address cyber risks and strengthen the security of digital systems.
As more judicial functions move online, Nepal faces the challenge of ensuring that its digital courts remain operational not only under normal conditions but also during disasters, cyberattacks and major technical disruptions.
Sharma urged stakeholders to work toward an internet environment that is secure, inclusive and accountable, with digital systems designed around the needs and rights of citizens.
