Justice Sushilla Karki may become the interim Prime Minister of Nepal…
Nepal’s Gen-Z protesters Want Ex-Chief Justice As The Interim Prime Minister: Nepal’s political system has plunged into chaos following the Gen-G protests, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. With no caretaker government in place, President Ramchandra Paudel has assumed full control of the administration. In an unprecedented move, Gen-G protest leaders, in consultation with the President and Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, have proposed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the interim Prime Minister—a proposal confirmed by the Supreme Court Bar Association of Nepal.
Sushila Karki’s name was put forward during a virtual meeting that lasted over four hours. All participants reportedly agreed that no youth affiliated with political parties should participate in leadership roles. Known for her impartiality and clean image, Karki remains politically unaffiliated and is respected as Nepal’s first and only female Chief Justice.
Who is Sushila Karki?
Karki, born in Biratnagar in 1952, has a strong background in political science and law, having served as Chief Justice from 2016 to 2017. Her tenure was marked by bold decisions in transitional justice and electoral reforms. Though an impeachment motion was brought against her in 2017 by major political parties, it was withdrawn after public backlash—solidifying her reputation as a defender of judicial independence.
Sushila Karki became Chief Justice from a lawyer
Karki started her law practice in 1979 in Biratnagar and worked as an assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan in 1985. She became a senior advocate in 2007. She was appointed as an ad-hoc judge in the Supreme Court on 22 January 2009. She then became a permanent judge of the Supreme Court on 18 November 2010. Karki became the Acting Chief Justice of Nepal on 13 April 2016. She was then appointed as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on 11 July 2016. She held this post until 7 June 2017.
Impeachment motion came against Sushila Karki
Sushila Karki delivered several important judgments during her tenure. She further strengthened the role of the judiciary as the guardian of democracy, resolving transitional justice and electoral disputes. On 30 April 2017, the Maoist Center (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) and the Nepali Congress introduced an impeachment motion against her in Parliament. The motion was later withdrawn following public pressure and an interim order of the Supreme Court staying the proceedings of Parliament.
