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Sushila Karki

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The Right Honourable
Sushila Karki
सुशीला कार्की
Nepalese woman with grey hair and glasses looking to the side
Karki in 2021
Prime Minister of Nepal
Interim
Assumed office
12 September 2025
PresidentRam Chandra Poudel
Vice PresidentRam Sahaya Yadav
Preceded byK. P. Sharma Oli
25th Chief Justice of Nepal
In office
11 July 2016 – 6 June 2017
Appointed byBidya Devi Bhandari
Preceded byKalyan Shrestha
Succeeded byGopal Prasad Parajuli
Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal
In office
January 2009 – 6 June 2017
Appointed byRam Baran Yadav
Preceded byKhil Raj Regmi
Succeeded byDeepak Raj Joshee
Personal details
Born (1952-06-07) 7 June 1952 (age 73)
Biratnagar, Morang District, Eastern Region, Kingdom of Nepal
Political partyIndependent
SpouseDurga Prasad Subedi
Education

Sushila Karki [a] (born 7 June 1952) is a Nepalese politician and former jurist who became the interim prime minister of Nepal following the Gen Z-led protests of September 2025 that led to her predecessor’s resignation.[1][2] She is the first woman in Nepal’s history to serve both as prime minister and as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal.[3][4] Karki previously served as chief justice from 2016 to 2017.

Early life and education

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Karki was born on 7 June 1952 to a Chhetri family from Sankarpur (later part of Biratnagar[5]), Nepal.[6][7] She is the eldest of her family's seven children.[8]

Karki attended Tribhuvan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Mahendra Morang College in 1972. She then studied political science in India, and in 1975 received a master's in political science from Banaras Hindu University. She returned to Tribhuvan University to study law, graduating in 1978.[9][6][10]

Early career

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From 1986 to 1989, Karki worked as assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan; from 1988, she concurrently was the bar president of the Koshi Zonal Court until 1990.[6][5] That year, she participated in the 1990 People's Movement to overthrow the Panchayat regime and was imprisoned in Biratnagar Jail. She later wrote the novel Kara inspired by her experiences.[11] In 2002, she was made president of the Biratnagar Appellate Court, a role she held until 2004, when she became a senior Advocate at the Nepal Bar Association.[6][5]

Supreme Court of Nepal (2009–2017)

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Karki was appointed an ad hoc justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal in poush/magh 2065. Her position was made permanent the following year.[9][6] In March 2016, the Supreme Court heard a writ petition over the appointment of Khil Raj Regmi as interim Prime Minister. The court held that the petition, originally filed in 2013, was no longer relevant and dismissed it; Karki and Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha dissented and found that the appointment of Regmi was unconstitutional. Karki later argued that Regmi's appointment had caused lasting damage to the Nepalese judiciary system.[12]

After the retirement of Chief Justice Shrestha in April 2016, Karki was recommended to take over the role by the Constitutional Council. She served on an ad hoc basis until a formal parliamentary hearing the following July confirmed her appointment.[8][6] She was the first female Chief Justice and known at the time of her appointment for being strict and anti-corruption.[13] She faced opposition for those attributes during her tenure, and was accused by the government of working against them after the Supreme Court overturned the appointment of Jaya Bahadur Chand as Chief of Nepal Police.[14][15][9] Impeachment proceedings, which became easier to initiate after the 2015 adoption of the Constitution,[16][12] were started against her in Parliament in April 2017 by Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre); she was automatically suspended.[9][15][17]

According to The Himalayan Times, the impeachment proceedings were viewed by many to be "politically motivated, intended to thwart the verdicts on some high-profile cases"[15] and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said that "the attempt to remove her gives rise to serious concerns about the Government's commitment to transitional justice and the rule of law".[18] Dissatisfied with decision to impeach her, the then deputy prime minister and home minister, Bimalendra Nidhi resigned[19][20] and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party left the coalition it had formed with Nepali Congress and CPN (MC).[17] In May, the Cholendra Shumsher Rana of the Supreme Court issued a stay against the proceedings.[15] Due to public pressure a deal was made during a cabinet reshuffle, and the ruling parties withdrew.[16][7] Karki resigned 6 June 2017 on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.[21][22][23]

After her retirement from the court, Karki wrote an autobiography about her early life and career as a judge. Published as Nyaya, Karki argued that democracy relied on the independence of the judiciary.[24] The next year, she published her novel Kara.[11]

Notable decisions

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Interim prime minister of Nepal (2025–present)

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Main article: Karki interim cabinet
US Nepal Summit for Democracy 2021
Karki in US Nepal Summit for Democracy 2021

After the 2025 Generation Z-led anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli to resign, an interim government was needed and Karki's name was suggested by activists due to her political neutrality.[29] Following a poll on the online communication platform Discord, protester server members selected Karki out of five options.[30] The appointment was agreed upon during talks with the Nepalese army.[31][30][32]

Upon her recommendation, president Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved the Federal Parliament of Nepal on 12 September,[32][33] and Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister based on article 61 of the Constitution of Nepal.[34][35] She is the first woman in Nepal's history to hold the position of Prime Minister.[32]

Notable decisions as Prime Minister

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From 12 September 2025 to 12 October 2025

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Karki unveiled her cabinet beginning 15 September 2025.[36] After taking her oath on 12 September, Karki vowed to bring peace, good governance, end corruption and conduct the fair general election after six months starting in March 2026.[37][38][39] In the same statement, she added those who died in the protests will be considered "martyrs".[40][41] After her swearing-in, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, and US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson congratulated Karki on assuming the office of Prime Minister and affirmed their support to the interim government for peace and stability.[42][43][44][45][46][47] On 13 September, Karki visited the hospitals of Kathmandu and met the injured Gen Z protesters, expressing solidarity and assuring them of government support.[48] On 14 September, Karki promised to investigate vandalism during the protests and announced compensation to the injured protesters of NPR 1 million ($7,000). Families, however, feel that further steps are required to appropriately honor the sacrifice made by those deceased.[49][50] On 15 September, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration extended his heartfelt congratulations to Karki. Both highlighted the close relationship between the Nepalese and Tibetans and expressed gratitude to country's government and citizens for providing facilities for Tibetan exiles' rehabilitation since 1959.[51][52]

On 25 September, Karki declared that government projects which were poorly planned and carried out on a modest budget or scale by the previous government will be abandoned. In order to raise money for repairing the infrastructure that was harmed during the Gen Z protests, she also announced the creation of a reconstruction fund.[53] She further announced that the minimum voting age has been lowered from 18 to 16 years to increase youth voter participation for the upcoming election.[54] On 29 September, Karki Government suspended and froze the passports of ex-prime minister K.P Sharma Oli, ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, along with three other government officials who worked under him including then-home secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, then-National Investigation Department chief Hutaraj Thapa, and then-chief district officer of Kathmandu, Chhabi Rijal.[55][56][57][58][59][60]By 15 October, 14 writ petitions had been filed in the supreme court against Karki and her government.[61]

From 15 October to present

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On October 18, Karki further briefed international diplomats about the upcoming March 2026 parliamentary elections and stressed her government’s focus on transparency, anti-corruption measures, and restoring stability.[62] On 21 October, Karki met leaders from seven political parties to discuss the upcoming elections.[63][64][65][66]

Personal life

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Karki married Durga Prasad Subedi, who as a youth wing leader of Nepali Congress was one of the perpetrators behind the 1973 Royal Nepal Airlines DHC-6 hijacking.[28][31][67][68] They met while studying in Banaras Hindu University,[69] and he was her tutor.[28] They have at least one child.[67]

In addition to her native Nepali, Karki speaks some Hindi and English.[9][6]

Bibliography

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  • Karki, Sushila (2018). Nyaya न्याय [Justice] (in Nepali). Nepal: Book Hill Publications. ISBN 978-9937-9217-8-7.
  • Karki, Sushila (2019). Kara कारा [Prison] (in Nepali). Nepal: Book Hill Publications. ISBN 978-9937-0-6806-2.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Nepali: सुशीला कार्की, romanized: Suśīlā Kārkī, pronounced [susilä käɾki].

References

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  1. ^ "Nepal unrest: Sushila Karki to take oath as interim PM; parliament dissolved". The Times of India. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  2. ^ "How Gen Z-led protests are rattling governments across Asia". NBC News. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Sushila Karki recommended for Chief Justice". The Himalayan Times. 10 April 2016.
  4. ^ "First woman Chief Justice of Nepal, Sushila Karki, takes oath". The Indian Express. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Ghimire, Binod Ghimire. "She made history as first woman chief justice of Nepal. Now as PM". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Rt. Hon'ble Justice Mrs. Sushila Karki (Subedi)". www.supremecourt.gov.np. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Gellner, David N.; Adhikari, Krishna P. (5 October 2020). "Guarding the Guards: Education, Corruption, and Nepal's Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)". Public Anthropologist. 2 (2): 177–200. doi:10.1163/25891715-BJA10003. ISSN 2589-1707.
  8. ^ a b "Nepal Gets First Woman Chief Justice, Sign Of Changing Attitudes". NDTV. Reuters. 13 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e "सुशीला कार्की कौन हैं, जिनके नेपाल के अंतरिम प्रधानमंत्री बनने की है चर्चा". BBC News Hindi (in Hindi). 11 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Sushila Karki, Nepals's new Acting CJ". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 15 April 2016.
  11. ^ a b "5 books on Nepali women by Nepali women". Online Khabar. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b Abeyratne, Rehan; Bùi-ngọc-Son, eds. (2022). The law and politics of unconstitutional constitutional amendments in Asia. Comparative constitutional change. London New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-1-000-48373-4.
  13. ^ Ostermann, Susan (2017). "Nepal in 2016: Nepali Women Rise above a Sea of Instability". Asian Survey. 57 (1): 60–64. doi:10.1525/as.2017.57.1.60. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 26367725 – via JSTOR.
  14. ^ "SC revokes Chand's appointment as Nepal Police chief, paves the way for Silwal". The Himalayan Times. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d "Supreme Court stays impeachment motion, reinstates CJ Karki". The Himalayan Times. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  16. ^ a b Bùi, Ngọc Sơn; Malagodi, Mara, eds. (2023). Asian comparative constitutional law. Oxford, UK ; New York, NY: Hart Publishing. p. 425. ISBN 978-1-5099-4969-4.
  17. ^ a b "Prachanda: Prachanda govt in crisis after coalition partner pulls support over judge's impeachment". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. ^ Kafle, Sanjeeb (5 May 2017). "UN condemns move to impeach Nepal's Chief Justice". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Nepal's deputy prime minister resigns after country's chief justice is impeached". Scroll.in. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Deputy PM, Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi resigns". Online Khabar. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  21. ^ Kafle, Sanjeeb (6 June 2017). "Chief Justice Karki retires". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  22. ^ Shamim, Sarah. "Who is Sushila Karki, Nepal's new 73-year-old interim prime minister?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Rt. Hon'ble Justice Mrs. Sushila Karki (Subedi)". supremecourt.gov.np. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Former CJ Karki's book released". Setopati. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Nepal Politics: Who is Sushila Karki, Gen Z's Pick for Interim PM?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  26. ^ Keswani, Pallavi (12 September 2025). "Who is Sushila Karki, Nepal's new interim head". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  27. ^ "Justice with conviction". The Kathmandu Post. 19 February 2018.
  28. ^ a b c "Sushila Karki: Jurist with anti-graft reputation, Nepal's first woman CJ — and now potentially its first woman PM". The Indian Express. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  29. ^ Landrin, Sophie (13 September 2025). "Sushila Karki appointed as Nepal's prime minister with mission to preserve unity". Le Monde. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Nepal's Gen Z protesters back ex-chief justice Karki for interim leadership". South China Morning Post. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Nepal Gen-Z protesters want former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, as interim PM". Hindustan Times. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  32. ^ a b c "Nepal gets first female PM after deadly unrest". BBC News. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  33. ^ "Nepal's major parties say dissolved parliament must be reinstated". BBC. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Sushila Karki appointed Prime Minister under Article 61, becomes Nepal's first female head of government". OnlineKhabar English News. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  35. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (12 September 2025). "Nepal appoints its first female PM after historic week of deadly protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  36. ^ Gurubacharya, Binaj (15 September 2025). "Nepal's PM appoints 3 new ministers as interim government prepares to hold fresh elections in March". AP News. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  37. ^ "Nepal's interim PM vows to end corruption – DW – 09/14/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  38. ^ "Nepal Politics: New PM Sushila Karki Pledges 6-Month Anti-Corruption Drive". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  39. ^ "Wont Stay For More Than 6 Months: Sushila Karki Takes Charge As Nepals Interim Prime Minister". Zee News. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  40. ^ Malik, Sagar. "Nepal interim PM Sushila Karki issues BIG statement: 'Not here to...'". DNA India. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  41. ^ "'Those involved in violence will...': Nepal PM Sushila Karki's BIG decision on carnage during Gen-Z protest, says violence was 'pre-planned' by..." www.india.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  42. ^ "US welcomes restoration of calm, peace in Nepal after Sushila Karki's appointment as PM of interim govt". ANI News. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  43. ^ "China congratulates Karki on appointment as interim prime minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  44. ^ "China congratulates Nepal's interim prime minister Sushila Karki". Nepal News. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  45. ^ "Modi congratulates Sushila Karki on taking oath as Nepal's interim PM". The Tribune. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  46. ^ "Sushila Karki assumes office as Nepal's interim prime minister after Oli's resignation". News Arena India. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  47. ^ "Nepal Politics: Modi Hails Sushila Karki as First Woman PM, Calls It Women Empowerment". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  48. ^ "Sushila Karki Meets Injured Protesters at Kathmandu Hospital". Wion. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  49. ^ "Nepal's acting premier promises to investigate vandalism during protests". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  50. ^ "Nepal PM Sushila Karki makes big announcement for Gen-Z protestors, says declaring martyrs…". www.india.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  51. ^ "Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel Congratulates Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki". Central Tibetan Administration. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  52. ^ "Sikyong Penpa Tsering Congratulates Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki". Central Tibetan Administration. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  53. ^ Online, T. H. T. (25 September 2025). "Govt committed to corruption control, social justice: PM Karki". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  54. ^ Desk, India Today World (25 September 2025). "Nepal interim PM lowers legal voting age from 18 to 16 after Gen-Z protests". India Today. Retrieved 24 October 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  55. ^ "Passports of Oli, four others who worked under him, frozen". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  56. ^ Desk, India Today World (29 September 2025). "Probe commission urges passport seizure of Nepal's ex-PM Oli, others". India Today. Retrieved 24 October 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  57. ^ Network, Post News (29 September 2025). "Nepal freezes passports of deposed PM Oli, 4 others - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  58. ^ "Nepal's former PM Oli barred from leaving Kathmandu: Home minister and 3 officials also under same order; passport to be cancelled". Bhaskar English. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  59. ^ "Commission bars Oli, Lekhak and three others from leaving Kathmandu Valley; directs passport suspension". Khabarhub. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  60. ^ "Nepals interim govt imposes travel restriction on former PM Oli, four others following probe into Gen-Z protest violence". The Tribune. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  61. ^ "10 petitions challenge Sushila Karki's premiership and House dissolution". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  62. ^ "PM Sushila Karki Vows Stability and Transparency While Briefing Diplomats on Nepal's Polls". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  63. ^ "PM Karki to meet seven parties to discuss upcoming election". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  64. ^ Online, T. H. T. (21 October 2025). "PM Karki Holds First All-Party Meeting to Build Consensus for March 5 Election". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  65. ^ author/ians (21 October 2025). "Nepal PM Sushila Karki meets party leaders to discuss upcoming elections - www.lokmattimes.com". Lokmat Times. Retrieved 24 October 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  66. ^ ANI News (10 November 2025). Interim Nepal govt must build trust for Elections, says NC Leader Rijal. Retrieved 17 November 2025 – via YouTube.
  67. ^ a b Dahal, Binita. "Justice-in-chief: Legalese". Nepali Times. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  68. ^ "Nepal unrest: Interim PM contender Sushila Karki's husband hijacked plane in 1973; passengers included actor Mala Sinha". The Times of India. 11 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  69. ^ "Who is Sushila Karki? Nepal's Gen-Z protesters want ex-chief justice as the interim prime minister". The Indian Express. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
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Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Nepal (interim)
2025–present 		Incumbent
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