Sushila Karki, Nepal’s former Chief Justice, on Friday took oath as the country’s interim Prime Minister, making history as the first woman to hold the nation’s top executive post.
The oath of office was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel at a formal ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence in Kathmandu.
Karki’s appointment follows the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who stepped down earlier this week after mounting pressure from a nationwide movement led by Gen Z activists. The youth-driven movement, frustrated with political corruption and stagnant governance, demanded a neutral figure to guide Nepal through a transitional phase.
Her selection marks a rare moment of consensus in Nepali politics. Chosen through a public vote conducted by Gen Z leaders on the online platform Discord, Karki emerged as the most widely accepted figure, gaining support not only from the youth movement but also from traditional political forces seeking stability during a period of upheaval, according to The Kathmandu Post.
Karki’s mandate is to restore order, conduct elections, and ensure Nepal’s development. Praised for her judicial independence, she is seen as acceptable to both young activists and established political forces.
Born on June 7, 1952, in Shankarpur, Biratnagar, Karki built her career on decades of legal experience and a strong reputation for integrity. She earned a master’s degree from Banaras Hindu University, India, and a Bachelor of Laws from Tribhuvan University in 1978. She began practising law in 1979, eventually serving as president of the Koshi Zonal Bar Association and the Biratnagar Appellate Bar before being appointed a Supreme Court justice in 2009. In July 2016, she became Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, renowned for landmark verdicts in high-profile corruption cases.
Despite being nominated under the Nepali Congress quota, Karki maintained judicial independence and never bowed to political pressure. Her tenure ended in June 2017 after a controversial impeachment motion, widely viewed as an attempt to halt her verdict on a police chief appointment, was filed against her by the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition.
Colleagues describe her as courageous, highly principled, and leading a spartan lifestyle. Former Supreme Court Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai said, “Gen Z found a true guardian in her. She has agreed to shoulder such a huge challenge, demonstrating her courage. We all need to support her. I am fully hopeful she will lead through the transition period, embracing democratic principles at the highest level.”
Karki remains vocal against corruption and has issued landmark rulings against political malpractice. She is married to Durga Subedi, a Congress leader involved in a 1973 plane hijacking to fund the anti-Panchayat movement.
Earlier on Friday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairperson of the National Assembly issued a joint statement expressing shock over the loss of life and property during the recent Gen Z protests on Bhadra 23 and 24, 2082 (September 8–9, 2025). The statement condemned the widespread arson and vandalism, including damage to the Federal Parliament Building in Baneshwor, the Federal Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar, and other government offices, private property, and historical records.
-ANI