Consumer Court Inaugurated to Strengthen Consumer Rights Protection

Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut inaugurated Nepal’s first Consumer Court today, marking a significant step toward ensuring consumer rights and fair trade practices. The court has been established in accordance with Clause 44 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2075, and will handle consumer-related cases in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, held in conjunction with International Consumer Rights Day 2025, Chief Justice Raut emphasized that consumer rights are enshrined in Nepal’s Constitution as fundamental rights. He stressed the importance of the Consumer Court in providing judicial redress for grievances related to the quality of goods and services. Highlighting the court’s broad jurisdiction, he called for greater clarity on its scope and urged the judicial body to gain public trust through effective and proactive rulings.

“The court has a responsibility to earn the trust of consumers and establish itself as a reliable institution. Judicial activism and result-oriented decisions are crucial to fulfilling this mandate,” he stated.

Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Damodar Bhandari reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a fair and competitive market while safeguarding consumer rights. He assured that the government, in collaboration with provincial and local authorities, would intensify market monitoring efforts and support the Consumer Court in its judicial operations.

Attorney General Ramesh Badal hailed the court’s establishment as a landmark in Nepal’s judicial reforms. He underscored the necessity of defining the types of cases the court will handle, such as disputes over mislabeled products and digital consumer rights violations. He also confirmed that government lawyers from the Special Court would represent the state in consumer cases.

Similarly, Abdul Khan, President of the House of Representatives’ Industry, Commerce, Labour, and Consumer Welfare Committee, emphasized that the court’s formation marks the transition of consumer rights from policy to implementation. He urged the government to introduce concrete policies for the court’s effective functioning and to set up quality-testing laboratories at all border points to prevent the circulation of substandard goods.

The Consumer Court will be chaired by Kathmandu District Court Judge Ram Prasad Sharma, with Gehendra Raj Regmi and Ananda Raj Pokharel serving as members.