Nepal Ex-Chief Justice to be Next PM: President's Office

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is set to be sworn in as the prime minister of Nepal’s interim government, becoming the first woman to hold the nation’s highest executive office.

“President Ram Chandra Paudel will appoint former chief justice Sushila Karki as the prime minister,” reported AFP, citing statement issued by president's press adviser Kiran Pokharel. “Karki is scheduled to be sworn in as prime minister at 9:00 pm (1515 GMT).”

Karki’s appointment marks a dramatic turn in Nepal’s political landscape, coming just four days after youth-led protests forced KP Sharma Oli out of Baluwatar. Her rise fulfils one of the key demands of the protestors, who has also called for the dissolution of parliament and a fresh mandate at the earliest.

Another major demand, according to some protest leaders, is a shift to a directly elected executive head — a significant departure from Nepal’s current multi-party parliamentary system.

Chosen for Neutrality and Credibility

Many leaders of the Generation Z–led uprising have said they rallied behind Karki for her perceived neutrality and credibility, qualities they believe are crucial to guiding the nation through its current turmoil. 

Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang Rai and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah were the other names pushed forward by the protesters for the role. While Shah has already endorsed Karki to lead the interim government, Sampang could not garner the support of the majority of the youth protesters.

Many cite Karki’s steadfastness during her tenure atop the judiciary as evidence of her ability to act above partisan lines.

By Friday afternoon, the death toll from the Gen Z-led anti-corruption and anti-social media ban protests had climbed to 51.

The unrest escalated after police used brute force on the first day of protests, Monday, sparking anger among youths and, reportedly, opportunistic infiltrators. What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly descended into arson and vandalism targeting key government institutions–the seat of the country's executive, judiciary and legislature, politicians' homes, as well as properties of the country's influential entrepreneurs and media houses, causing what authorities estimate as billions of rupees in damage.

Karki’s Background

Born in Biratnagar in 1952, Karki studied political science and law before embarking on a distinguished legal career. She earned her BA from Mahendra Morang Campus in 1972, a master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University in 1975, and a law degree from Tribhuvan University in 1978.

She began practising law in Biratnagar in 1979 and later taught at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan. Karki was recognised as a senior advocate in 2007 and appointed an ad-hoc justice at the Supreme Court in 2009, becoming a permanent justice in 2010.

Karki served as acting Chief Justice from April to July 2016, and as Chief Justice from July 2016 to June 2017 — the first woman to lead Nepal’s judiciary.

During her tenure, she presided over several landmark cases on transitional justice and electoral disputes, reinforcing the judiciary’s role as a guardian of democracy. In April 2017, an impeachment motion was filed against her in Parliament by the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress but was withdrawn following public backlash and an interim Supreme Court order halting the proceedings.

Karki is married to Durga Prasad Subedi, a former leader of the Nepali Congress, whom she met during her student years in Banaras. Notably, Subedi was among the individuals involved in the hijacking of the plane en route to Kathmandu from Biratnagar and carrying cash belonging to Rastra Bank in 1973.

This news has been updated.