Biography

Sushila Karki is a respected Nepali legal expert and political figure who made history by becoming the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of Nepal in 2016. She later became the first female interim prime minister of Nepal in September 2025. She was born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, in the Morang district. She studied at universities in both Nepal and India, earning her master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University and later her law degree from Tribhuvan University. She is known for her honesty, courage, and firm opposition to corruption. During her time as a judge, she delivered important rulings that showed she was not influenced by politics.

Her strong leadership and fair reputation made her a top choice during Nepal’s 2025 political situation, when large protests led by young people against corruption and social media restrictions forced Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli to resign. On September 12, 2025, she took the oath as interim prime minister. Her role was to bring back stability, support those affected by the protests, and ensure free and fair elections that were planned for March 2026. Her journey represents a major step forward for women in leadership roles and shows Nepal’s attempt to find a neutral and trustworthy government during times of trouble.

Career

Sushila Karki started her legal career in 1979 in Biratnagar and quickly became involved in local legal groups like the Koshi Zonal Bar and the Biratnagar Appellate Bar. Her strong legal skills and honest nature helped her get appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009. In July 2016, she became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice in Nepal. During her time in that role, she was known for being independent, brave, and against corruption. However, her strong and sometimes controversial decisions led to political pushback, including an impeachment effort in 2017, especially related to her ruling on who could be appointed as a police chief. The impeachment didn’t get enough support, and she stepped down in June 2017, still seen as a courageous and fair judge.

Appointment as Interim Prime Minister

Sushila Karki started her legal career in 1979 in Biratnagar and quickly became involved in local legal groups like the Koshi Zonal Bar and the Biratnagar Appellate Bar. Her strong legal skills and honest nature helped her get appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009. In July 2016, she became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice in Nepal. During her time in that role, she was known for being independent, brave, and against corruption. However, her strong and sometimes controversial decisions led to political pushback, including an impeachment effort in 2017, especially related to her ruling on who could be appointed as a police chief. The impeachment didn’t get enough support, and she stepped down in June 2017, still seen as a courageous and fair judge. In September 2025, Nepal experienced widespread unrest as “Gen Z” youth took to the streets to protest against corruption, favoritism, and a controversial social media ban. The protests turned violent, resulting in over 50 deaths, 1,300 injuries, and considerable damage to government buildings. During the chaos, more than 12,500 prisoners escaped from jails, adding to the country’s instability.

As the situation worsened, Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli stepped down, and President Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved the parliament. Through discussions involving the president, political leaders, the military, and youth representatives, Sushila Karki was selected as a consensus candidate because of her non-partisan stance and strong reputation for honesty. On September 12, 2025, she took office as interim prime minister, becoming the first woman in Nepal’s history to hold that position.

Challenges and mandate

Sushila Karki’s main role is transitional:

• She is responsible for keeping the country safe and stable.
• She must ensure justice for people affected by protests and hold corrupt officials accountable.
• She also needs to restore freedom of the internet and rebuild trust in how the government works.
• She will oversee free and fair elections, which are planned for March 5, 2026.

Her appointment is meaningful because she represents the need for honesty, fairness, and changes in how government is run. But she has some big challenges to deal with, such as meeting the hopes of the younger generation who led the protests.

• Working with political leaders who might not want change.
• Dealing with doubts about whether it’s appropriate for a former chief justice to hold an executive position, as some people worry this could mix up the roles of different branches of government.
• Handling security issues and keeping things stable while making changes to the political system.