Kathmandu, September 12, 2025: In a historic milestone, Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, was sworn in as the country’s interim Prime Minister on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the President’s Office. President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath, marking Karki as the first woman to lead Nepal’s government. The ceremony, attended by Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, was broadcast on state television.

“Congratulations! We wish you success, wish the country success,” President Poudel said after the swearing-in. While administering the oath, he announced that House of Representatives elections would be held in six months, signaling a roadmap to restore full democratic functioning amid the transitional government.

Karki’s appointment follows deadly anti-corruption protests led by Gen Z activists, which ousted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and dissolved parliament. Her selection, endorsed by protesters for her neutrality and anti-corruption stance, ends days of political turmoil.

Who is Sushila Karki?

Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Karki earned a BA from Mahendra Morang Campus in 1972, an MA in political science from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1975, and an LLB from Tribhuvan University in 1978. She began her career as an advocate in 1979 and taught at Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan, in 1985.

Appointed as an ad-hoc Justice of the Supreme Court in 2009 and made permanent in 2010, Karki became Nepal’s first female Chief Justice on July 11, 2016, recommended by the Constitutional Council under then-PM K.P. Sharma Oli. Her tenure, lasting until June 6, 2017, was marked by landmark judgments, including overturning the appointment of Lokman Singh Karki to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Known for her strict anti-corruption stance, Karki faced an impeachment motion in 2017, accused of “biased verdicts” and judicial overreach. The motion failed to secure a two-thirds majority amid public outcry and UN concerns over threats to judicial independence. She retired at 65 but continued advocating for rule of law and governance reforms.

Karki’s neutrality, lack of political affiliation, and judicial legacy made her the protesters’ preferred choice for interim leadership. As interim PM, she is expected to oversee elections and address corruption demands.