Kathmandu, Sep 12: Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, 73, was sworn in as Nepal’s interim Prime Minister on Friday, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the country’s history. President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath after extensive consultations with Gen-Z protest leaders, constitutional experts, and the army chief.
Karki’s appointment follows the collapse of KP Sharma Oli’s government earlier this week during violent youth-led protests that left at least 51 dead. Protestors, demanding reforms and justice, backed Karki as a neutral interim leader despite constitutional hurdles. Nepal’s Constitution bars non-parliamentarians and former Chief Justices from becoming Prime Minister, but she was appointed under the long-used “principle of necessity.”
Constitutional lawyer Bipin Adhikari cautioned that bypassing the charter could set a troubling precedent, though he acknowledged Karki’s integrity and constitutional record. Supporters, including former PM Baburam Bhattarai, welcomed her selection, calling it a symbol of hope and renewal.
Karki, born in 1952 in Biratnagar, studied law at Tribhuvan University and political science at Banaras Hindu University before beginning her legal career in 1979. Rising through Nepal’s judiciary, she became Chief Justice in 2016, known for bold rulings, including the disqualification of anti-corruption chief Lok Man Singh Karki. She also presided over high-profile corruption cases but faced political backlash, including a short-lived impeachment attempt.
Her husband, Durga Subedi, a Nepali Congress activist, was involved in Nepal’s first plane hijacking in 1973 to fund resistance against the Panchayat regime.
As interim Prime Minister, Karki faces the immediate challenge of restoring calm, preparing for fresh elections, and addressing Gen-Z demands for accountability, anti-corruption measures, and good governance. Observers believe her tenure could mark a turning point if she balances stability with reform.
