4.5.1 Hierarchy of Courts

Article 127 establishes a three-tier court structure — and, unusually for a federation, the judiciary is one integrated hierarchy, not a set of provincial judiciaries: SUPREME COURT (Art. 128) — 1 court, Kathmandu CJ + max. 20 Justices (Art. 129(1)) │ ┌──────────────┴──────────────┐ HIGH COURTS (Art. 139) — 7, one per province: Biratnagar · Janakpur · Patan · Pokhara Tulsipur · Surkhet (Birendranagar) · Dipayal + 11 benches (e.g., Ilam, Dhankuta, Okhaldhunga; Rajbiraj, Birgunj; Hetauda; Baglung; Butwal, Nepalgunj; Jumla; Mahendranagar) │ DISTRICT COURTS (Art. 148) — 77, one per district (with Bench Officers for petty cases) Key structural points: • Supreme Court — Court of Record; all other courts and judicial institutions are under it; final interpreter of the Constitution and law (Art. 128(2)); its legal principles bind all (Art. 128(4)). The Chief Justice is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council; Justices on the recommendation of the Judicial Council (Art. 129(2)); retirement at 65. • High Courts — one in each province (Art. 139); Chief Judges and Judges appointed by the Chief Justice on the Judicial Council's recommendation (Art. 140); retire at 63. Benches (फाँट अदालत) extend access. • District Courts — one in every district (Art. 148); judges appointed by the Chief Justice on the Judicial Council's recommendation (Art. 149) through an open system that…