Kathmandu, April 22 -- In just over a month since the country's first consumer court began operations, only six cases have been filed by consumers seeking compensation. Officials believe this low number is mainly due to a lack of public awareness regarding the court's existence and purpose.

"Only six cases have been filed in more than five weeks of the court's operation. This may be due to a limited consumer awareness, as very few complaints are coming in," said Shobhakar Kharel, the court's registrar. He added that they are hopeful more people will come forward in the coming days.

Consumers can file complaints either by hiring a lawyer or representing themselves. They can also seek support from consumer rights organiations, which can a...