GALKOT: Judicial committees operating in 85 local levels across the 11 districts of Gandaki Province have become increasingly active in resolving disputes at the community level.

In the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, a total of 1,789 cases were registered with these judicial committees, according to data made public by the local levels for the first time. The figures indicate a growing number of citizens bringing both minor and serious disputes to local judicial bodies.

Of the total cases registered last fiscal year, verdicts were delivered in 336 cases, while 805 cases were resolved through arbitration. Meanwhile, 294 cases are still under review, 39 cases have been referred to the courts, and 40 cases have been appealed.

Most disputes were related to land and house boundaries, accounting for 351 cases. Other common issues included borrowing and lending (145 cases), alimony (213 cases), daily wage disputes (102 cases), physical assault (14 cases), obstruction of access to roads or pathways (55 cases), senior citizen-related issues (42 cases), domestic violence (28 cases), public land disputes (27 cases), and child-related cases (22), among others.

Deputy Mayor of Baglung Municipality and coordinator of the judicial committee, Raju Khadka, said that resolving disputes through arbitration is a positive development. He added that during the first term of local governments, only a limited number of cases were registered, but the number of complaints brought to judicial committees has been steadily increasing in recent years.