Who is Sushila Karki? Nepal’s Gen-Z protesters want ex-chief justice as the interim prime minister

The demand comes in the wake of Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests that spiralled into violence after a proposed social media ban. At least 22 people were killed as demonstrators clashed with security forces on Monday, setting fire to Parliament House, the President’s Office, the Prime Minister’s residence, party headquarters, and homes of senior leaders.

Who is Sushila Karki ?

Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Sushila Karki pursued studies in political science and law before launching a distinguished career in advocacy and legal reform. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Mahendra Morang Campus, Biratnagar, in 1972, earned a master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in 1975, and obtained her law degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 1978.

Karki began her legal practice in Biratnagar in 1979 and worked as an assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan, in 1985. She became a senior advocate in 2007. She was appointed an Ad-Hoc Justice at the Supreme Court on January 22, 2009, and became a permanent Justice on November 18, 2010. Karki served as acting Chief Justice from April 13 to July 10, 2016, and then as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from July 11, 2016, to June 7, 2017.

During her tenure, she presided over landmark cases on transitional justice and electoral disputes, reinforcing the judiciary’s role as a guardian of democracy. On April 30, 2017, an impeachment motion was submitted against her in Parliament by the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress. The motion was later withdrawn following public pressure and an interim Supreme Court order barring Parliament from proceeding.

Karki married Durga Prasad Subedi, a prominent youth leader of the Nepali Congress, whom she met while studying in Banaras.