Nepal is witnessing a historic political shift as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has reportedly been selected by the country’s Gen Z protesters to head an interim government. This comes in the wake of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation amid massive student-led demonstrations, owing to corruption and suspension of social media applications, that have now plunged the nation into a deep political crisis.
Gen Z Movement Backs Karki as Interim Prime Minister
According to Nepalese media, Sushila Karki’s name was finalized during a virtual meeting of the Gen Z movement on September 10. Alongside Karki, other popular figures such as Kathmandu mayor and rapper Balendra Shah and former electricity board chief Kulman Ghising were also under consideration. However, the youth-led movement eventually threw its weight behind the 73-year-old retired judge, making her the frontrunner for Nepal’s interim leadership.
The development follows two days of intense student protests that forced Prime Minister Oli to step down. The situation escalated quickly, with the Nepal Army deployed to restore order. Nationwide curfews and restrictive measures were enforced to contain the unrest.
A Supreme Court Bar Association secretary told Reuters that the protesters see Sushila Karki as a neutral and credible figure to guide Nepal through its political transition.
Who is Sushila Karki?
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Nepal’s First Female Chief Justice – Sushila Karki made history by becoming the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court from July 2016 to June 2017. She was widely respected for adopting a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
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Early Life and Education – Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Karki is the eldest of seven siblings. She pursued her BA from Mahendra Morang Campus (1972), MA in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University (1975), and later earned her Law degree from Tribhuvan University in 1978.
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Legal Career – Karki began practicing law in 1979, became a senior advocate in 2007, and was appointed an ad-hoc Supreme Court judge in 2009. By 2010, she was confirmed as a permanent judge.
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Challenges as Chief Justice – In April 2017, she faced temporary suspension after lawmakers filed an impeachment motion, accusing her of bias in a verdict that disqualified Nepal’s anti-corruption chief.
Sushila Karki on India and PM Modi
Karki has often spoken warmly about India-Nepal relations, emphasizing the strong cultural and social ties between the two nations. She described the people-to-people relationship as one filled with “goodwill, love, and brotherhood”, noting that many Nepalis share familial and personal connections with Indians.
On Indian leaders, she was rather quite impressed and considered them as Nepal’s fellow brothers and sisters. Karki also assured that Indians living in Nepal remain safe, stressing that the Nepal Army has been working to restore peace and justice, especially for families who lost loved ones during the protests. The Ministry of External Affairs has issued directives for Indians living in Nepal to return home safely and stay indoors. Flights from India to Nepal have been suspended until any further orders are received. PM Narendra Modi and MEA have taken a download of the entire situation and continue to monitor the development.
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