Kathmandu: On a somber Sunday morning in Nepal, the premises of the Supreme Court, a bastion of justice, transformed into a makeshift administrative hub. Following a week of turmoil, marked by widespread protests and violence that led to a strict curfew, the nation was cautiously stepping back towards normalcy. The army had relaxed its grip, and the first working day after this reprieve saw an unusual sight: a series of white tents, emblazoned with “Supreme Court Nepal,” dotting the lawn.
Temporary tents were set up on Nepal’s Supreme Court premises on Sunday morning, the first working day after curfew was relaxed by the army in the Himalayan nation, which was rocked by massive protests and violence last week.
The records of at least 26,000 ongoing case files as well as stored records of 36,000 files in the apex court complex were destroyed in the fire, according to senior advocate Purna Man Sakya, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Under the canvas roofs, a quiet and orderly process unfolded. Staff from various courts met with individuals seeking updates on their cases. The atmosphere, while subdued, was one of determined efficiency. Litigants, some of whom had traveled considerable distances, were handed new dates for their hearings and proceedings. This simple, yet vital, act was a small but powerful signal of the state’s resilience.
Many advocates who had come to the court on Sunday as it reopened for business after the curfew was eased by the army a day ago. However, the courtrooms, the registrar’s office and even the chambers of judges and the chief justice were charred and damaged.
Kathmandu’s skyline was choked with smoke as the city’s tallest hotel, Hilton Kathmandu, was set ablaze during the fierce anti-government protests. The dramatic fire, captured in viral images and video, turned Nepal’s iconic glass tower into a blackened shell, just over a year after it opened.
Led largely by Gen Z demonstrators, the unrest saw burning of government sites and even politicians’ homes. Amid citywide curfew, mounting clashes, and a death toll nearing 51, the gutted Hilton now stands as a stark symbol of the turmoil shaking Nepal’s capital and beyond.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News