Gen-Z group agrees to propose former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as head of interim govt

KATHMANDU: Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is on the verge of making history as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister.

The five-hour-long virtual meeting of the Gen-Z group has reached consensus to recommend Karki as the head of the interim government.

Following the decision, Karki reportedly conveyed over a phone call her willingness to lead the government. The Gen-Z representatives are now set to meet with Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel to discuss the formation of the interim government under her leadership.

If the proposal receives approval from the Army Chief, Karki will take charge during this critical juncture, guiding the nation through its current crisis.

Karki, the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, was previously recommended for the post by the Constitutional Council during the tenure of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. She is widely known for her strict stance against corruption in the judiciary and later became a prominent civic activist after stepping down from the bench.

Born into a farming family close to BP Koirala’s circle, Karki is the eldest of seven siblings. Despite her father’s wish for her to pursue medicine, she chose law and later married Durga Prasad Subedi while studying at Banaras Hindu University, where she completed her Master’s in Political Science. She practiced law for over three decades and served seven years as a Supreme Court Justice, eventually becoming Chief Justice.

Throughout her judicial career, Karki presided over several high-profile cases, including convicting former Minister Jayaprakash Gupta in a corruption case. She is fluent in Nepali, English, and Hindi, and has visited countries including the U.S., U.K., Sri Lanka, Japan, China, India, Tanzania, and the Netherlands.

Known for her fearless approach and simple lifestyle, Karki has a reputation for integrity and fairness. Following the promulgation of Nepal’s Constitution in 2015, she was among the first three women to reach the nation’s highest offices, alongside President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Speaker Onsari Gharti. Now, she stands at the threshold of leading the country as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister.