Sushila Karki, a distinguished jurist and Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, is poised to make history again as she prepares to take oath as the country’s first female Prime Minister. At 73, Karki’s ascent to the interim leadership follows intense deliberations among Nepal’s Gen Z protestors, President Ramchandra Paudel, and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, after violent protests forced the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Tuesday. Her appointment signals a transformative moment for Nepal, a nation grappling with political upheaval and demands for reform.

Born on June 7, 1952, in Shankerpur, Biratnagar, Karki hails from a modest farming family, the eldest of seven siblings. Her academic journey took her from Mahendra Morang Campus, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1971, to Banaras Hindu University in India for a Master’s in Political Science in 1975, and back to Tribhuvan University for a law degree in 1978.

Karki’s legal career began in 1979 in Biratnagar, and her rise through the judiciary culminated in her historic appointment as Nepal’s 24th Chief Justice in July 2016, serving until June 2017. As Chief Justice, she earned widespread acclaim for her anti-corruption stance and bold rulings, though she faced a politically motivated impeachment motion in 2017, which was withdrawn amid public outcry and a Supreme Court order.

Karki’s reputation for integrity made her the preferred choice of Nepal’s youth, who see her as a symbol of impartial leadership. “She has made a reputation of a bold and fair justice with zero tolerance to corruption,” said Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi. Her judicial tenure included landmark cases addressing corruption and human rights, reinforcing her legacy as a champion of justice.

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Beyond the courtroom, Karki’s personal life reflects her revolutionary spirit. Married to Durga Prasad Subedi, a former Nepali Congress youth leader involved in the 1973 hijacking of a Nepal Airlines plane to fund the party’s democratic struggle, Karki has navigated Nepal’s turbulent political landscape with resilience. Her post-retirement contributions include two books: Nyay, an autobiography, and Kara, a novel inspired by her imprisonment during the 1990 People’s Movement for democracy. A regular contributor to newspapers, she remains a vocal advocate for governance and justice.

As Karki steps into the role of interim Prime Minister, her journey from a remote village to the pinnacle of Nepal’s judiciary and now its executive leadership underscores her as a trailblazer for gender equality and institutional reform. Supporters believe her leadership will usher in a new era of accountability and progress, addressing the demands of Nepal’s youth and stabilizing a nation in crisis.

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