Bhutan · Courts
Court structure of Bhutan
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Supreme Court of Bhutan
- Established 2010; final appellate and constitutional court.
- Appellate — High Court
- Appeals from dzongkhag courts; benches by subject matter.
- First instance — Dzongkhag Courts
- District courts of general jurisdiction.
- First instance — Dungkhag Courts
- Sub-district courts in specified areas.
- Local — Gewog mediation
- Community mediation by local leaders for minor disputes.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeThimphuSupreme Court of BhutanFinal appeals from the High Court, original jurisdiction over constitutional questions, and authority to give opinions on questions of law referred by the King.
- appellateThimphuHigh Court of BhutanAppeals from the dzongkhag courts, and first-instance jurisdiction over serious matters and cases involving the state.
- first-instanceDistrict headquartersDzongkhag CourtsFirst-instance civil, criminal and family matters within the district, with dungkhag courts below them in some sub-districts.
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