CJ Sharma calls for comprehensive assessment of internet disruption risks

Lalitpur: Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma has called for advanced assessment of risks arising from internet disruptions and the development of effective strategies to address them.

Addressing the 17th Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) 2026 in Lalitpur on Monday, CJ Sharma said internet governance risk management should focus on identifying, assessing and controlling potential risks linked to the operation, policymaking and use of the internet.

Held under the theme ”Safeguarding a Resilient Internet in Times of Crisis,” the three-day forum is focusing on internet governance, digital rights, security and the development of safe and resilient digital infrastructure.

During the speech, Sharma said resilient internet and digital infrastructure were essential to protecting people, their rights and institutions, as access to public services increasingly depends on reliable and secure digital systems. He urged collective efforts to build an internet governance framework that is secure, inclusive, accountable and people-centered while ensuring that no community is left behind.

Referring to Nepal’s recent experience with natural disasters, Sharma asserted that damage to physical infrastructure had also exposed the vulnerability of digital and telecommunications systems. Floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26, for example, damaged roads, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, he added.

Such incidents, he asserted, highlighted the need for systems that can withstand disruptions, adapt to changing circumstances and recover quickly. Sharma also highlighted the growing use of technology in Nepal’s judiciary, including case management, electronic records, evidence management and judicial hearings.

He, however, cautioned that greater reliance on digital systems also poses new risks, making secure records, reliable data storage and effective disaster recovery essential.

CJ Sharma argued that digital transformation in the judiciary should ultimately improve access to justice by making services faster, more affordable and citizen-centered, while strengthening accountability and public trust.

Noting that risks such as floods, earthquakes, landslides and cybercrime can cross national borders, Sharma called for greater regional and international cooperation on emergency connectivity, digital infrastructure, knowledge sharing and disaster recovery.

Referring to the ‘Judiciary Information and Communication Technology Policy 2026’, he mentioned that information security had been identified as a key foundation of judicial digital transformation.

The forum, organized as a regional initiative of the UN Internet Governance Forum, brings together participants from across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen cooperation on building a resilient internet during crises, said Baburam Aryal, advocate as well as organizer of the event.

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