The Supreme Court of Nepal has upheld the government’s decision to allow the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to collect royalties and manage 27 peaks. The ruling came on Monday, January 20, as a joint bench of Honorable Judges Shree Kumar Regmi and Nityananda Pandeya dismissed a case filed by Advocate Dipak Bikram Mishra. The case, registered on January 21, 2019, had sought to revoke the government’s decision granting NMA the authority to manage these peaks, including issuing climbing permits and collecting royalties.
This ruling reinforces the NMA’s longstanding role in managing Nepal’s peaks, as outlined in the Tourism Act of 2035, and confirms the cabinet’s decision that has guided the NMA’s responsibilities. The NMA, Nepal’s sole national alpine association, welcomed the decision, with its President Nima Nuru stating, “This ruling has clarified the issue. The NMA has been dedicatedly to working for the betterment of Nepal’s mountain tourism industry, exclusively contributing to the nation’s economy. We believe this decision favors Nepal’s mountain tourism.”
Established on January 18, 1978, the NMA initially managed 18 peaks ranging from 5,583 to 6,654 meters in height. The government expanded its mandate on September 16, 2002, adding 15 more peaks. As a technical arm of the government, the NMA has also played a key role in emergency rescues and promoting Nepal’s mountain heritage, environment, and tourism globally.
The NMA has a rich history of training mountaineering professionals, with 1,983 individuals completing its programs, including Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Training and Mountain Guide Training. To streamline its efforts, the NMA established a training institute offering government-approved courses for mountain guides and leaders. Additionally, it operates the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, one of the largest mountain museums globally, along with a mountaineering school in Manang and a rescue center in the Annapurna region.
The association’s efforts extend internationally as a representative of Nepal in the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA). It leverages these platforms to promote Nepal’s mountain tourism on a global scale. The NMA has also been active in community welfare, offering scholarships to 59 students this year and providing medical allowances for two physically challenged mountaineers.
This Supreme Court ruling solidifies the NMA’s role in advancing Nepal’s mountain tourism and preserving its rich cultural and natural heritage, ensuring that the country remains a premier destination for mountaineering enthusiasts worldwide.