Sushila Karki, Nepal’s former chief justice, has been appointed as the head of the caretaker government.
The 73-year-old jurist is set to take the oath as interim prime minister at 8:45 pm at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas. She becomes Nepal’s first female prime minister.
Karki, who also served as the first female chief justice of Nepal, is widely known for landmark judgements. She earned recognition for her anti-corruption stance and commitment to justice. Her rulings included jailing sitting minister Jaya Prakash Gupta for corruption. She also made a significant ruling that allowed Nepali women to pass citizenship to their children—a right previously reserved for men.
Her appointment comes as Nepal faces a political crisis. Parliament was dissolved amid widespread protests led by the Gen Z group against corruption and political instability. Some political parties demanded constitutional clarity, while civil society groups urged legal procedures be followed for the dissolution.
Talks between key stakeholders, including the protest leaders, ended inconclusively on Thursday. However, the Gen Z group backed Karki as the next prime minister. Known for her credibility and integrity, Karki’s leadership was seen as a solution to restore trust. She is regarded by many as a crusader against corruption and a fearless judge.
The unrest follows Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation on Tuesday. Oli stepped down after protesters stormed his office, demanding accountability for the deaths of at least 19 people in police action during protests over corruption and a social media ban. The ban was lifted Monday night. Authorities have relaxed the overnight curfew for four hours to help citizens adjust while restrictions remain in place.
The crisis has also affected businesses. According to Macquarie, companies like Godrej Consumer, ITC, and Dabur are exposed to the unrest in Nepal and Indonesia.