KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered the government to submit a written response within 15 days to a public interest petition seeking stronger safeguards against custodial deaths and the protection of people held in state custody.

A single bench of Justice Dr. Nahakul Subedi on Tuesday directed the Office of the Attorney General to file the government’s response after Advocate Kumar Thapaliya petitioned the court, arguing that the state must ensure the safety and right to life of detainees.

The petition names eight government bodies, including the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as respondents.

While the petitioner sought an interim order, the court declined, saying the matter would be decided during the final hearing.

According to Advocacy Forum, 44 custodial and prison deaths have been disputed over the past nine years, with most victims belonging to marginalized communities. Data from Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) show that 21 people died in police custody over the past five years.

Nepal’s 74 prisons currently house 26,843 inmates, with rights groups warning that some deaths in custody continue to raise serious concerns over accountability and detainee protection.