Nepal Supreme Court orders dedicated data protection law for national ID

Nepal's Supreme Court has directed the government to draft a standalone law governing personal and biometric data collected under the National Identity Card program, ruling existing safeguards insufficient. It also struck down a Nepal Rastra Bank directive that made the NID the sole basis for opening or renewing bank accounts.

• Court says Parliament-approved law, not administrative standards, must protect privacy
• Central bank directive making NID mandatory for bank accounts struck down
• Banks should receive only a yes-or-no response when verifying biometrics
• Case was filed by advocate Sarita Adhikari over bank access to biometric records