Nepal gets its first female PM: Sushila Karki

President Ram Chandra Poudel has administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki for the formation of an interim government.

The special ceremony was held late tonight at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas.

President Poudel appointed Karki in consultation with political parties and stakeholders, responding to the demands and aspirations expressed by the youth amid a period of political uncertainty and extraordinary circumstances.

Exercising his constitutional powers, the President tasked Karki with leading the interim government and holding another election within six months to ensure constitutional compliance and national unity.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by the Vice President, Chief Justice, senior government officials, security chiefs, and representatives of diplomatic missions in Nepal.

Karki, a former Chief Justice, was appointed following consensus on the demands raised by the Gen Z-led movement, which called for good governance, youth leadership, and regulation of inactive social media.

The movement had previously caused significant public and property losses, leading then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

The new Prime Minister will form a small cabinet tasked with implementing the government’s priorities and ensuring a smooth transition toward elections.

Impeachment Motion Filed Against Chief Justice Sushila Karki

Sushila Karki, 73, the first female Chief Justice of Nepal, served as the head of the Supreme Court from Ashar 2073 to Jestha 2074.

Her tenure was marked by her distinctive leadership style and assertive approach, which led to an impeachment motion being filed against her.

The motion, submitted by 249 parliamentarians, accused her of several allegations including: interfering with the cabinet’s authority in appointing the Inspector General of Police, forming benches with only selected judges, directing judges to deliver decisions according to her preferences, causing factions among judges, failing to perform her duties with integrity in violation of the Constitution and laws, incompetence, and misconduct.

Following the filing of the impeachment motion at the parliamentary secretariat, Karki was suspended. However, a single bench led by Cholendra Shamsher Jabara heard a writ petition challenging the motion and ruled on Baishakh 22 that the proposal was inconsistent with the spirit and essence of the Constitution.

The court also issued an interim order allowing Karki to continue her duties, after which she returned to the Supreme Court on Baishakh 24.

In her autobiography ‘Nyaya’, Karki cited the main reasons for the impeachment attempt as her refusal to act as a government puppet and her insistence on adhering strictly to the law.

She claimed that the motion was partly motivated by attempts to delay rulings on the Sudan scam case and that her tenure saw decisive judgments against corruption and major mafia-related cases, which unsettled vested interests.

The impeachment motion also highlighted the appointment of the Inspector General of Police. Under the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, DIG Jay Bahadur Chand was appointed IGP, but another DIG, Nawaraj Silwal, challenged the appointment, claiming he had a higher performance evaluation.

The court ruled that the appointment should follow the seniority system, which caused discontent among ruling party leaders who considered it a violation of the cabinet’s executive powers. The motion was eventually withdrawn on Jestha 15, but it continues to be a point of criticism for former leaders of the Congress and Maoist parties, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Fearless and Determined Judge

Before joining the judiciary on Magh 3, 2065, Karki pledged during her parliamentary hearing, “I will do everything justice and law demand, but I will not take bribes.” She maintained this commitment throughout her 8 years, 5 months, and 15 days as a judge, proudly stating in her autobiography, “I did not take a single rupee as bribe. I am proud of taking such a stand for the nation.”

Her fearless nature is evident in landmark rulings, including the annulment of Lokman Singh Karki’s appointment as Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Though initially appointed in accordance with a high-level political recommendation, Karki-led bench reviewed and declared the appointment illegal on Bhadra 31, 2073. This ruling, made despite political pressure from then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, created nationwide attention.

She was also part of the bench that declared former Communications Minister JP Gupta corrupt on Falgun 10, 2068, ordering him jailed for failing to justify assets worth NPR 84,09,928. During this case, she faced persistent pressure, including threatening phone calls meant to intimidate her before the verdict. Karki, along with Bishwambhar Shrestha, also delivered the verdict in the Sudan scam case on Baishakh 17, 2074, sentencing former IGPs Om Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung, and Ramesh Chandra Thakuri to jail.

Personal Background and Early Influences

Born on Jestha 25, 2009 BS, in Biratnagar, Karki attributes her courage to her grandmother, a widow who lived independently and commanded respect. Her father, Dilli Bahadur Karki, fought in the Seven-Year Revolution with the Mukti Sena and later supported Congress before becoming less active politically. She was involved in student organizations close to the Congress during her youth and was a member of the Nepal Student Union (NESUN).

While pursuing higher studies in Banaras, she was influenced by BP Koirala and stayed with his family in Sarnath. However, she later faced accusations of working against BP from his own circle. Following these experiences, she returned to Nepal, completed her law degree, and pursued a career in advocacy. She married Durga Subedi, a figure involved in a 2030 BS plane hijacking in Biratnagar connected to Congress’s revolutionary funding efforts.

From Advocacy to Supreme Court Leadership

Karki began her legal career in Dharan in Magh 2035 BS. She actively supported the multiparty system during the 2037 BS referendum and the 2046 BS People’s Movement.

After 31 years in law practice, she was appointed as a Supreme Court judge on Poush 3, 2065 BS. She became a permanent judge in 2068 BS and eventually rose to become the first female Chief Justice.

Following the retirement of Kalyan Shrestha on Chaitra 30, 2072 BS, she assumed the role based on seniority and served until Ashar 25, 2073 BS, taking the oath from President Bidya Bhandari on Ashar 27, 2073 BS.

Public Life and Advocacy

Since retiring from the judiciary in Jestha 2074 BS, Karki has lived a simple life while remaining active in public affairs.

She has consistently spoken out against corruption, irregularities, and governmental shortcomings. She has even taken to the streets in protests, including after the killing of 19 protesters on Bhadra 23.

She opposed the parliamentary dissolutions by KP Sharma Oli on Poush 5, 2077 BS, and Jestha 8, 2078 BS, joining three other former Chief Justices in declaring the dissolutions unconstitutional. On Kartik 8, 2078 BS, Karki and other former Chief Justices issued a statement urging judicial leadership to prioritize the judiciary’s interests over personal gain amid political challenges.