Avash Phuyal, Advocate, Associate Researcher, PolicyLab
Abstract
Nepal’s issue with case-backlogs in courts, contributed by several reasons, one being lethargic cases management, AI proved to be an effective tool to enhance efficiency of courts in dealing with cases – Nepal’s Judiciary has recognized potential use of AI in this present Strategic Plan, several initiatives have yielded favorable results in other contexts such as Germany, Brazil, South Korea, China. It’s high time for Nepal to adopt AI Technology inside of Nepal’s Judiciary. This article explores the potential use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address this systemic challenge by streamlining judicial processes and enhancing case management. Drawing on global examples—such as Germany’s OLGA system and Nepal’s strategic developments, including the Supreme Court’s Five-Year Strategic Plan (2024/25–2029/30) the article highlights how technologies like automated case classification, predictive workload balancing, and AI-assisted scheduling can support more efficient and transparent justice delivery.
The judicial data from the Supreme Court of Nepal highlights a troubling backlog in the nation’s courts at all tiers, signaling various challenges in delivering timely justice. Out of a total of 3,77,678 cases, only 2,29,587 cases have been resolved, resulting in a completion rate of approximately 60.8%. This leaves a backlog of 148,091 pending cases, or 39.2% of the total caseload, awaiting resolution, as published by the Supreme Court as of July 16, 2025.
A closer examination of the periods of pending cases reveals the depth of the issue on backlog cases of the last 5 fiscal years. The graph illustrates the status of the case backlog, displaying the number of cases pending settlement by the Supreme Court of Nepal from fiscal year 2019/20 to fiscal year 2024/25 publishd by supreme court at anual report.
Fig: Status of case backlog from the past five fiscal years
AI can be understood as a technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, and autonomy. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity for targeted reform. Technologies such as automated case classification, predictive workload balancing, and AI-assisted scheduling tools can significantly reduce the time required to process cases, particularly those that are older. By identifying patterns of delay and reallocating judicial resources more effectively, AI can help the Supreme Court manage both the volume and period of backlogged cases, while improving transparency and judicial performance.
Looking over the best practices on the use of AI to manage the case backlog, In Germany, courts faced an overwhelming influx of cases, with some, like the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, encountering backlogs exceeding 10,000 cases. The traditional approach, where judges manually reviewed lengthy electronic pleadings, often running into hundreds of pages, proved inefficient and time-consuming. To address this, the Ministry of Justice in Baden-Württemberg recommended the use of AI technologies equipped with Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to automate and accelerate case categorization. A system named OLGA was introduced, which could extract metadata, categorize cases, and assist in document analysis. This enabled judges and clerks to navigate large volumes of documents more efficiently by using keyword-based searches and contextual insights.
The system maintained a transparent and traceable process, ensuring that data protection standards were upheld and that judicial oversight remained central. OLGA also preserved the history and origin of case information, allowing users to view a comprehensive timeline and context for each case. By automating repetitive administrative tasks, judges were able to redirect their attention to more complex legal issues. As a result, the courts reported that case processing times could potentially be reduced by over 50% as per the article published by IBM on 4 February 2025. This experience underscores several best practices: adopting AI for document and metadata management, ensuring transparency and data protection, and using intelligent systems to free up judicial resources. These lessons offer valuable guidance for other jurisdictions, including Nepal, seeking to address their own case backlogs through the responsible and strategic use of AI.
Nepal’s judiciary, burdened with a growing backlog of cases, faces an urgent need for innovative solutions to streamline operations and deliver timely justice. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential in this context. Through tools such as automated case classification, predictive workload balancing, and AI-assisted scheduling, courts and administrative bodies in Nepal can move toward more efficient case management and significantly reduce systemic delays.
Globally, such AI technologies have already demonstrated success in modernizing judicial systems. Nepal is beginning to adopt this digital transition, marked by increasing engagement from key judicial actors. An initiation was taken in September 2024, when stakeholders such as judges, senior advocates, government attorneys, and representatives from the Supreme Court, Nepal Bar Association, and National Judicial Academy, gathered in Kathmandu for the first national consultation on the UNESCO Draft Guidelines for the Use of AI in Judicial Systems. Similarly already the initiations of AI had started in Brazil, South Korea, China, etc.
Similarly, the adoption of AI in Nepal’s judiciary was marked as essential during a Conference of the Nepal Bar Association (Young Lawyers Committee) on June 28, 2024. As noted by Supreme Court Justice Nahakul Subedi, amid the event, potential applications of AI could be, but not limited to the following:
- Routing Administrative and managerial tasks (such as case registration, case categorization/classification, court fee compilation case proceedings, other concerned judicial services, ie, information dissemination),
- Analysing and organizing evidence, like identifying patterns, comparisons, inconsistencies, etc. (evidence such as documentation, forensic reports, audio recordings, video footage, recognition of text image, transcription of proceedings including oral submission, assessing credibility of witness)
- Judging the case (such as analysing the evidence, analysing past precedents, analysing the law, providing insights into the key issue, and insights into the likely outcome of a particular issue)
- Assistance in preparing reports, decisions and judgments, such as formality, styles, and structure, previous opinions and judgments, consistencies in similar issues.
Among the most promising applications is automated case classification, which uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to categorize thousands of pending cases based on urgency, type, and complexity. Such automation enables courts to prioritize time-sensitive and sensitive cases, such as bail hearings or gender-based violence matters, more effectively.
Another impactful tool is predictive workload balancing, which leverages historical and real-time data to allocate cases equitably among judges, clerks, and support staff. In Nepal, this can ease the burden and ensure a more balanced judicial process. Additionally, AI-assisted scheduling systems optimize court calendars and visit date flows by considering case urgency, legal deadlines, and resource constraints. This minimizes unnecessary adjournments and accelerates resolution timelines.
The Supreme Court is currently exploring the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) within its operations. According to the 5th Five-Year Strategic Plan for the Supreme Court covering the period from 2024/25 to 2029/30, there is a focus on AI under strategic plan 9.4.2, which addresses the use and sustainable management of information and communication technology (ICT). The Supreme Court aims to study and gradually implement the use of AI, blockchain, machine learning, online dispute resolution, and other information technologies to enhance case management and improve justice delivery in the courts. The target for submitting the study report is set for mid-March 2027.Concluding, Nepal’s judiciary has identified case backlog as one of the issues with nearly 40% of cases unresolved. AI technologies such as automated case classification, predictive workload balancing, and AI-assisted scheduling offer practical solutions to improve efficiency and reduce delays. Global best practices, like Germany’s OLGA system, show how AI can cut processing time while maintaining transparency. Nepal has already taken initial steps, including national consultations and strategic planning, to responsibly integrate AI. With proper legal, technical, and ethical frameworks, AI can reduce the backlog and play a transformative role in building a more efficient and accessible justice system.