Kathmandu: Nepal is set to witness a historic moment as Sushila Karki, the country’s first female Chief Justice, will be sworn in as the interim Prime Minister today at 8:30 PM. The announcement comes after Gen Z activists rallied in support of her appointment following the resignation of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli. The Nepalese parliament has also been suspended ahead of the ceremony.
Karki, widely respected for her uncompromising stance against corruption, is being hailed as a people’s choice leader, particularly among the youth. She first entered Nepal’s legal system in 1979 and went on to become an ad hoc Supreme Court judge in 2009 before being appointed permanently in 2010. She broke barriers in 2016 when she assumed office as the first female Chief Justice, a tenure that lasted until June 2017.
Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Karki is the eldest of seven siblings. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Tribhuvan University (1978), a master’s in political science from Banaras Hindu University (1975), and another bachelor’s degree in law from Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar (1972).
Her judicial career has not been without controversy. In 2017, she was temporarily suspended after parliamentarians from the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) filed an impeachment motion against her, accusing her of bias. However, the motion was abandoned after widespread public pressure and a Supreme Court intervention.
Karki has presided over several landmark cases, including Om Bhakta Rana v. CIAA/Government of Nepal, which exposed corruption in peacekeeping missions, and Prithivi Bahadur Pandey v. Kathmandu District Court, which dealt with the printing of polymer banknotes in Australia.
Beyond the bench, she has authored two books: Nyaya: An Autobiography and Kara, which narrates the struggles of Nepali women and her own experiences in Biratnagar Jail.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Karki confirmed that she accepted the request to lead the interim administration after what she described as “boys and girls, the Gen Z of Nepal,” voted in her favor. “I have seen and observed Nepal’s government over the years. This time, the youth wanted me, and I could not say no,” she said.
Karki’s oath today is expected to mark a turning point in Nepal’s political journey, with hopes pinned on her reputation for integrity and fearless judicial legacy.
