Nepal Court Hearing Status Explained: What Do Herna Nabhyayeko, Sthagith, Aadesh and Faisala Mean?

When court sessions conclude around 4:30 PM on a working day in Nepal, case statuses are published online using formal legal terms: हेर्न नभ्याइएको, स्थगित, हेर्न नमिल्ने, आदेश भएको, or फैसला भएको.

For non-lawyers, these formal terms can be confusing. Does "Herna Nabhyayeko" mean your case was dismissed? What is the difference between an Aadesh (order) and a Faisala (judgment)?

This guide breaks down every common court hearing outcome in plain language and explains what each status means for your case.

1. Why Hearings Do Not Always End in a Final Judgment

Litigation in Nepal—governed by the National Civil Procedure Code 2074 and National Criminal Procedure Code 2074—moves through a structured multi-stage process:

A case appears before a court bench multiple times throughout its duration. Many hearings are held simply to decide interim applications, order government files, examine witnesses, or hear procedural arguments.

Receiving an outcome other than "Final Judgment" is a standard part of Nepal's court procedure.

2. Common Court Hearing Statuses Explained

Here is what each official court status means in practice:

1. हेर्न नभ्याइएको (Herna Nabhyayeko – Not Reached / Time Elapsed)

• What Happened: Court hours (typically 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) ended before the bench could reach your case on the daily cause list. If previous cases involved long arguments, the judges simply ran out of time.
• Does It Harm Your Case? No. It does not reflect on the merits of your case and carries no negative consequences.
• What Happens Next? The court registry will assign a new hearing date (अर्को पेसी). You or your lawyer should collect the new attendance slip (तारिख पर्चा).

2. स्थगित (Sthagith – Postponed / Adjourned)

• What Happened: The scheduled hearing was deferred to a later date. This usually happens when an advocate submits a formal application for adjournment due to illness or another urgent court appearance, or when both parties mutually request time to explore a settlement.
• Statutory Limit: Under the Civil Procedure Code 2074, an advocate is limited in how many times they can postpone a case (typically up to two times per party).

3. हेर्न नमिल्ने (Herna Namilne – Judge Recusal)

• What Happened: One or more judges on the bench cannot ethically hear the matter under the Judicial Code of Conduct (for instance, if the judge previously represented one of the parties as an advocate or had personal involvement in the dispute).
• What Happens Next? The case file is returned to the Chief Justice or Chief Judge to be assigned to a different bench configuration.

4. आदेश भएको (Aadesh Bhayeko – Interlocutory Order Passed)

• What Happened: The bench heard arguments and issued an interim or procedural order. An Aadesh is a direction, not a final judgment. Examples include:
  • An interim order (अन्तरिम आदेश) granting temporary relief.
  • An order requisitioning lower court records or land registry files (मिसिल झिकाउने).
  • A bail decision (थुनछेक आदेश) in a criminal matter.
• What Happens Next? Parties must comply with the directives. If an interlocutory order unfairly affects your rights, legal remedies may be available in the higher court.

5. फैसला भएको (Faisala Bhayeko – Final Judgment Delivered)

• What Happened: The court has concluded the case and delivered its final binding decision on the merits of the dispute.
• What Happens Next? The full written judgment (पूर्ण पाठ) will be prepared and certified. Litigants can obtain a certified copy (प्रमाणित प्रतिलिपि) to execute the decision or file an appeal within the statutory appeal window (usually 30 days).

6. प्रमाण बुझ्ने (Praman Bujhne – Evidence Examination)

• What Happened: The court ordered evidentiary proceedings to begin. This includes recording witness depositions (बकपत्र), document verification, or field inspections (सरजमिन).
• What Happens Next? Parties will receive specific dates to present their witnesses physically in court.

7. मिलापत्र (Milapatra – Court Compromise / Settlement)

• What Happened: Both parties reached a mutual, amicable agreement, often with the assistance of the court’s mediation center. The terms were drafted, signed, and approved by the judge.
• Legal Effect: A Milapatra permanently settles the dispute and cannot be appealed.

8. तामेली (Tameli – Administrative Dormancy)

• What Happened: The case has been put into inactive records, often because the plaintiff failed to attend required court dates without obtaining an extension.
• Remedy: In eligible circumstances under Section 196 of the Civil Procedure Code 2074, an application can be filed to revive the case (मुद्दा जगाउने).

3. Summary of Actions by Status

4. Track Your Case Outcomes on Mudda Kendra

Rather than waiting for updates or calling your lawyer at odd hours, you can track your case outcomes on Mudda Kendra.

Mudda Kendra provides a clean interface where you can view past orders, scheduled hearing dates, and current case stages across District, High, and Supreme Courts.

Register on the website at muddakendra.com/signup to start. Once registered, you can track cases from your web dashboard or log in using the Mudda Kendra companion mobile app on iOS and Android. For more information, visit our Help & Support Center.