Nepali legal terms: a working glossary for students
नेपाली कानुनी शब्दावली
The Nepali and English terms that appear in statutes, court orders and legal documents — with short, practical explanations instead of literal translations.
How to use this glossary#
This is a working vocabulary, not a dictionary. The English equivalent is a guide to meaning, not a statutory definition. Where an Act defines a term, that definition controls.
Nepali legal language often uses a Sanskrit-derived formal register. The same idea may appear in a shorter everyday word in speech and a longer formal term in a statute. Learn both, but draft with the register the document requires.
Constitution and legislation#
| नेपाली | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| संविधान | Constitution | The supreme law; Part 3 contains fundamental rights. |
| ऐन | Act | A law made by the legislature. |
| संहिता | Code | A consolidated Act covering a broad subject, such as the Civil Code. |
| नियमावली | Regulation / Rules | Made under an Act to implement it. |
| कानून | Law | A general word; identify the specific instrument. |
| राजपत्र | Gazette | The official government publication for commencement and amendments. |
| प्रस्तावना | Preamble | The introductory statement of purpose. |
| दफा | Section | The main numbered provision of an Act. |
| उपदफा | Subsection | A numbered paragraph within a section. |
| खण्ड | Clause | A lettered item within a subsection. |
| परन्तु | Proviso | A qualification or exception to the main rule. |
| व्याख्या | Explanation | A provision that clarifies how a term or section is read. |
| अनुसूची | Schedule | An attached list, form, fee or transitional provision. |
| अधिकारक्षेत्र | Jurisdiction | The legal power of a court or authority. |
Courts and parties#
| नेपाली | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| अदालत | Court | The institution that decides cases. |
| सर्वोच्च अदालत | Supreme Court | The apex court. |
| उच्च अदालत | High Court | Provincial appellate court with writ jurisdiction. |
| जिल्ला अदालत | District Court | General first-instance court for a district. |
| न्यायाधीश | Judge | Presiding officer of a court. |
| वादी | Plaintiff | The party who files a civil claim. |
| प्रतिवादी | Defendant | The party against whom a civil claim is filed. |
| अभियुक्त | Accused | The person charged with an offence. |
| सरकारी वकिल | Public prosecutor | The lawyer who presents the state’s case. |
| जिल्ला न्यायाधिवक्ता | District Attorney | The officer who decides whether to file a charge sheet. |
| इजलास | Bench | The judge or panel hearing a case. |
| फैसला | Judgment | The court’s decision on the case. |
| आदेश | Order | A direction of the court, often procedural or interim. |
Procedure and evidence#
| नेपाली | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| मुद्दा | Case | A proceeding before a court or tribunal. |
| फिराद | Plaint | The civil claim filed by the plaintiff. |
| प्रतिवाद | Statement of defence | The defendant’s written response. |
| जाहेरी | Complaint / FIR | The initial criminal complaint to the police. |
| अभियोग पत्र | Charge sheet | The prosecution’s formal accusation filed in court. |
| साक्षी | Witness | A person who gives evidence. |
| प्रमाण | Evidence | Material used to prove or disprove a fact. |
| बयान | Statement | An account recorded by a party or witness. |
| तारेख | Bail / attendance | Release on a promise to appear. |
| धरौटी | Security / deposit | Money or property deposited as a condition of release. |
| थुनुवा | Detention | Custody during investigation or trial. |
| म्याद | Summons | A notice requiring a person to appear. |
| पुनरावेदन | Appeal | A challenge to a decision before a higher court. |
| पुनरावलोकन | Review | A request that the same court reconsider its decision. |
| हदम्याद | Limitation | The time within which a claim or appeal must be filed. |
| क्षेत्राधिकार | Territorial jurisdiction | The geographical area in which a court can act. |
| प्राकृतिक न्याय | Natural justice | Fair hearing and an unbiased decision-maker. |
Writs and constitutional remedies#
| नेपाली | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| रिट | Writ | A constitutional order against a public authority. |
| बन्दीप्रत्यक्षीकरण | Habeas corpus | Produce a detained person and test the detention. |
| परमादेश | Mandamus | Command performance of a legal duty. |
| उत्प्रेषण | Certiorari | Quash an unlawful decision. |
| प्रतिषेध | Prohibition | Stop an authority from exceeding jurisdiction. |
| अधिकारपृच्छा | Quo warranto | Question the authority to hold public office. |
Documents and property#
| नेपाली | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| करारनामा | Agreement | A document recording mutual obligations. |
| तमसुक | Bond / undertaking | A written acknowledgment of an obligation. |
| राजीनामा | Deed of relinquishment | A deed used to relinquish an interest, commonly in property. |
| बैना | Earnest money | An advance payment that holds a transaction. |
| वारिसनामा | Heir document | A document identifying legal heirs. |
| अंश | Partition / share | The division of property or an inheritance share. |
| दर्ता | Registration | Official recording of a document or title. |
| सही | Signature | The mark of a person executing a document. |
| अख्तियारनामा | Power of attorney | Authority for one person to act for another. |
| शपथपत्र | Affidavit | A sworn written statement. |
| निवेदन | Petition / application | A request to a court or authority. |
Latin terms you will meet in judgments#
| Term | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ratio decidendi | The reason for deciding | The principle that can bind later courts. |
| Obiter dicta | Remarks by the way | Persuasive observations that are not the ratio. |
| Stare decisis | Stand by things decided | The doctrine of following precedent. |
| Locus standi | Place to stand | The right to bring a case. |
| Res judicata | A matter already judged | A final decision can bar a repeated claim. |
| Audi alteram partem | Hear the other side | The fair-hearing rule. |
Do not sprinkle Latin into a Nepali document to sound learned. Use it when it is the standard term in the judgment or the legal test, and explain it once for the reader.
Official sources & further reading
Links checked October 2026. Read the current consolidated text and verify amendments before relying on a provision.
Nepal Law Commission — Law Dictionary
Nepal Law Commission
Official legal dictionary for checking Nepali terms.
The Constitution of Nepal, 2015
Nepal Law Commission
The source for constitutional terms and writ names.
Citation Rules for the Law and Justice Sectors in Nepal (CiRu-Nepal)
National Judicial Academy
Useful for the standard English renderings of Nepali legal materials.
Educational use only.
This guide explains the law for study and research. It is not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Statutes, rules and court practice change; verify the current position with an advocate or the official source.