There was a big crowd of service seekers as the apex court resumed work after a gap of two weeks. "Despite the big crowd of service seekers, we managed to provide court appearance dates to more than 3,000 individuals. We set up a makeshift office under tents and at smaller buildings within our premises," said Baburam Dahal, SC joint-spokesperson.Following the earthquake, the apex court had suspended all services as its main building was badly damaged. The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) has suggested not to reopen the main building. A DUDBC team led by Director General Shambhu KC inspected the building and found three serious cracks in it. The building can be entered only to retrieve documents and other things. Likewise, the registrar's office and a parallel block have developed diagonal cracks in the walls.
Though the apex court has resumed general services, case hearings could not be conducted.
"We included only review petitions in today's (Sunday's) case-list since the justices need not hear out the parties in such petitions. The Supreme Court cannot conduct case hearings until the provisional benches are set up," said Dahal.
The government had earlier decided to provide land for the Supreme Court premises in the backyard of the existing building at Singha Darbar, where the Nepal Army runs its cavalry.
"We have asked the government to start construction of new buildings on the site as well as construct a provisional structure for setting up at least four benches," said Dahal.
The apex court has been trying to set up its other offices in a building where the Judicial Council (JC) was housed. The court has asked the JC to vacate the building and the latter plans to move to the Nepal Bar Council building.
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