Kathmandu, Feb. 21 -- Nepal's first consumer court, a specialised court handling consumer complaints and grievances, will begin hearing cases on March 15, coinciding with World Consumer Rights Day.

The development comes nearly three years after the Supreme Court's order to establish such a court.

On February 10, the Nepal Gazette published a notice announcing the formation of the consumer court.

Judge Ram Prasad Sharma of the Kathmandu District Court will chair the court, with under-secretary Gehendra Raj Regmi from the Judicial Service and Under-secretary Ananda Raj Pokharel from the civil service as members.

The consumer court will initially handle Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur cases. Due to budget constraints, the court has be...