Nepal, Dec. 23 -- When Nepal adopted a federal system of governance, policymakers hoped that minor disputes would be resolved close to home. The Local Government Operation Act 2017 empowered the municipalities and rural municipalities to settle minor disputes at the local level, easing pressure on courts and delivering quicker justice.

Accordingly, mediation centres were set up at local units and within district courts to translate this idea into practice. Years on, however, the promise of mediation remains largely unfulfilled, as thousands of cases that could be settled through dialogue continue to clog the courts.

"The expectation was that after the formation of local governments, the burden of minor cases would decline," said Ramchan...