Kathmandu, Nov. 2 -- Nearly two months after widespread arson and vandalism during the September 9 protests, courts across the country are struggling to resume regular judicial services. Some courts have restored partial operations while most are functioning with makeshift arrangements, minimal equipment and loss of documents that could take months, or even years, to recover.

The fire at the High Court in Biratnagar destroyed the main building, the chief judge's quarters, a guesthouse, and the office of the registrar, along with invaluable judicial records.

According to Santosh Pokharel, the court's information officer, all archives preserved since 1953 were reduced to ashes. "Historical case files, citizens' land ownership documents, p...