Bhutanese rights group welcomes Nepal Supreme Court’s ruling

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The Hague – The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) has welcomed, what it termed the historic ruling of the Supreme Court of Nepal.

In its verdict on 9 January 2026, the apex court affirmed that refugees in Nepal must not be obstructed from resettlement in third countries and cannot be treated as ordinary foreigners under immigration laws.

The Court overturned a Home Secretary-level decision that had stopped a Bhutanese refugee family from the Beldangi camp in Jhapa from travelling to Canada, due to alleged immigration violations and unpaid fines. The Court clarified that recognised refugees cannot be penalised for expired identity cards or overstaying. This is especially true after the resettlement program was suspended in 2016. The Court also stressed that obstructing travel could put refugees’ lives at risk.

The Supreme Court reiterated that refugees have three lawful options: voluntarily repatriate when conditions allow, integrate locally, or resettle in third countries. The Court directed the State to facilitate these solutions if refugees cannot return or integrate.

While over 113,000 Bhutanese refugees were resettled in eight countries by 2016, more than 6,500 remain in two camps in eastern Nepal, with many seeking dignified repatriation, family reunification, or complementary resettlement pathways. Nepal government has denied these refugees access to these options by refusing to take up this issue with Bhutan, renew their identity cards, and issue travel documents, the GCRPPB said.

The situation is particularly urgent for former Bhutanese political prisoners who registered as refugees before Bhutanese authorities arrested them. Their families have resettled abroad, but these individuals remain in Nepal without refugee registration or legal documents. As a result, they are stateless, deprived of basic necessities, and unable to join their families.

GCRPPB has called on the Government of Nepal to:

• Urgently seek international support to facilitate voluntary, dignified repatriation and guarantee full citizenship and human rights for those wishing to return to Bhutan.
• Resume without delay the registration of all left-out refugees, and issue identity cards and travel documents immediately to ensure legal protection and mobility.
• Provide, as a matter of urgency, the documentation required for former political prisoners and other undocumented refugees so they can reunite with their families abroad.

“This ruling offers a historic opportunity to address decades of the Bhutanese refugee crisis. It is a chance to ensure justice, safety, and dignity for Bhutanese refugees. GCRPPB urges the Government of Nepal to fully and expeditiously implement the Supreme Court’s decision without delay. GCRPPB also calls on the international community—including the United Nations, resettlement countries, and humanitarian partners—to provide robust financial, technical, and diplomatic support to achieve sustainable, lasting solutions for Bhutanese refugees,” international coordinator of GCRPPB said.

The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) remains committed to advocating for the release of political prisoners in Bhutan, accountability for human rights violations, and the protection of refugee rights worldwide, a press statement said.