Portal Site on JICA's Cooperation in Legal and Judicial Development Sector

Basic information on JICA's projects

Support for the Civil Code

After the end of the civil war in 2006, one of the major issues in Nepal was the modernization of the legal system, in the process of peace-building and democratization.

In particular, the Muluki Ain, a national law created more than 150 years ago, was divided into five laws (Civil Code, Penal Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Sentencing Act) and newly established.

Regarding the Civil Code, in response to a request from the Nepal side to Japan to provide advice, as Japan is influenced by both continental law (civil law) and Anglo-American Law (common law), we have been supporting the drafting process of the Civil Code Bill and the subsequent discussions on the dissemination and amendment of the Civil Code since 2009.

• (Individual project, country-specific training) Seminar on the Civil Code and related laws (April 2009 to March 2013)
• (Individual project, country-specific training) Comparative study on the criminal justice system and criminal procedures (July 2010 to July 2010)
• (Individual project, country-specific training) Preparation of the Civil Code instruction (April 2012 to March 2013)
• (Individual project, country-specific training) Case management seminar (April 2012 to March 2013)
• (Individual project, country-specific training) Laws related to the Civil Code (April 2013 to March 2014)
• (Individual project, Expert) Legal and judicial development advisor (July 28, 2010, to September 29, 2013)
• (Individual project, Expert) Legal and judicial development advisor (September 21, 2013, to September 20, 2015)
• (Individual project, Expert) Legal and judicial development advisor (September 1, 2015, to August 25, 2019)

Project for Strengthening the Capacity of Courts

The Supreme Court of Nepal implemented judicial reforms based on the Second Five-year Judicial Strategic Plan (2009/10 to 2013/14).

In line with this plan, Japan provided support to the court in improving case management to ensure fair and prompt dispute resolution.

We worked to improve the management of legal cases and to utilize mediation to resolve disputes expeditiously through dialogue.

• (Technical cooperation project) Project for Strengthening the Capacity of Courts for Expeditious and Reliable Dispute Settlement (September 2013 to March 2018)

Reports

Click the project name to go to the JICA Library.

• Report of the preparatory survey for cooperation on the program for supporting democratization in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (July 2010) (PDF)
• Project research on legal and judicial development support "Legal empowerment of developing countries" (April 2013).
• Report of the survey on the development of a detailed plan of the Project for Strengthening the Capacity of Courts for Expeditious and Reliable Dispute Settlement in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (September 2013)

Codes and Acts related to JICA's support

Civil Code the National Civil Code

Passed on September 24, 2017 Approved
Effective on August 17, 2018 Effected
Amended on April 15, 2019 First amendment

• The National Civil (Code) Act, 2017 (2074) (English) (external link) (PDF)

The file on the above website is that before the revision on April 15, 2019, and the latest version as of November 2022 is provided below.

• English (PDF/0.98MB)
• Original text in Nepalese, with amendment in 2019 Original text in Nepalese, with amendment in 2019 (external link) ( PDF)

[Reference information]

• Website of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Nepal that publishes English translations of laws and regulations (external link)
• Website of the Nepal Law Commission that publishes English translations of the laws and regulations (external link)

Simplified version of 5 codes (Simplified version of 5 codes)

available only in Nepalese)(available only in Nepalese)

Published on December 11, 2018, by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs

(Note) "Muluki Ain," a national law that came into effect in 1854, was reorganized and 5 laws (Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Act on Sentencing and Enforcement of Crimes) were enacted in September 2017.

JICA supported the preparation of abstracts of the Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure.

• Booklet on all 5 codes (Nepalese)Booklet on all 5 codes (Nepalese) (PDF/0.97MB)
• Booklet on the Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure (Nepalese) (PDF/642KB)

[Contents（Contents)]

Cover: P.1
Table of Contents: P.2
Remarks by the Law Minister: P.3
Remarks by the Law Secretary: P.4
Simplified version of Penal Code: P.5-49
Simplified version of Criminal Procedure Code: P. 50-67
Simplified version of Sentencing Act: P.68-70
Simplified version of Civil Code: P.71-125
Simplified version of Civil Procedure Code: P.126-136

Preliminary draft of Civil Code and Civil Procedure Code (2010)

• English (PDF/1.78MB)

Project for Strengthening the Capacity of Courts

Case Management Guideline Case Management Guideline

The Supreme Court of Nepal, issued in May 2017

• English (PDF/1.16MB)
• Nepalese (external link) (PDF)

Material for Mediation Seminar Material for Mediation Seminar

Held in August 2017

• English (PDF/8.43MB)

Resource Material Related to Mediation Resource Material related to Mediation

(available only in Nepalese)
National Judicial Academy Published in September 2017

• Nepalese (external link) (PDF)