Sushila Karki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sushila Karki
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सुशीला कार्की
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Karki in 2021
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| Prime Minister of Nepal | |
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Interim
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| In office 12 September 2025 – 27 March 2026 |
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| President | Ram Chandra Paudel |
| Preceded by | K. P. Sharma Oli |
| Succeeded by | Balen Shah |
| Chief Justice of Nepal | |
| In office 11 July 2016 – 6 June 2017 |
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| Appointed by | Bidya Devi Bhandari |
| Preceded by | Kalyan Shrestha |
| Succeeded by | Gopal Prasad Parajuli |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal | |
| In office 22 January 2009 – 6 June 2017 |
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| Appointed by | Ram Baran Yadav |
| Preceded by | Khil Raj Regmi |
| Succeeded by | Deepak Raj Joshee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 June 1952 Biratnagar, Morang District, Eastern Region, Kingdom of Nepal |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Durga Prasad Subedi |
| Education | |
Sushila Karki (born 7 June 1952) is a respected Nepalese lawyer and stateswoman. She served as the Chief Justice of Nepal from 2016 to 2017. She also held the important role of interim prime minister of Nepal from September 2025 to March 2026. She became prime minister after many young people protested in September 2025. These protests led to the previous prime minister stepping down. Karki made history as the first woman in Nepal to serve as both a prime minister and the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal.
Meet Sushila Karki: Nepal's Trailblazing Leader
Her Early Life and School Days
Sushila Karki was born on June 7, 1952. She grew up in a family from Sankarpur, which is now part of Biratnagar, Nepal. She was the oldest of seven children in her family.
Karki went to Tribhuvan University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972. Later, she studied political science in India. In 1975, she received a master's degree from Banaras Hindu University. She then returned to Tribhuvan University to study law, finishing her degree in 1978.
Starting Her Career in Law
From 1986 to 1989, Karki worked as an assistant teacher. At the same time, from 1988 to 1990, she was the head of the lawyers' association for the Koshi Zonal Court. In 1990, she joined the 1990 People's Movement. This movement aimed to bring democracy to Nepal. She was even put in Biratnagar Jail for her involvement.
Her experiences in jail later inspired her to write a novel called Kara. In 2002, she became the president of the Biratnagar Appellate Court. She held this position until 2004. After that, she became a senior lawyer at the Nepal Bar Association.
Leading the Supreme Court (2009–2017)
Karki was first appointed as a temporary judge for the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2009. Her position became permanent the next year. In March 2016, the Supreme Court looked at a legal request about the appointment of Khil Raj Regmi as interim Prime Minister. The court decided the request was no longer relevant.
However, Karki and Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha disagreed. They believed Regmi's appointment was against the constitution. Karki later said that this appointment had caused lasting problems for Nepal's justice system.
After Chief Justice Shrestha retired in April 2016, Karki was suggested to take over. She served temporarily until July, when Parliament officially confirmed her appointment. She was the first woman to become Chief Justice. She was known for being strict and fighting against corruption.
During her time, she faced challenges because of her strong stance. Some government officials accused her of working against them. This happened after the Supreme Court reversed an appointment for the Chief of Nepal Police. In April 2017, some political parties tried to remove her from office. This process is called impeachment. She was automatically suspended from her duties.
Many people, including the United Nations, thought these actions were politically motivated. They believed it was an attempt to stop her from making important decisions. Because of public pressure, the parties eventually withdrew their attempt to remove her. Karki retired on June 6, 2017, when she reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.
After leaving the court, Karki wrote her life story, called Nyaya. In this book, she explained that democracy needs a strong and independent justice system.
Important Decisions She Made
Sushila Karki made several important decisions during her time on the Supreme Court. These included:
- A case about corruption in a peacekeeping mission.
- A case related to surrogacy.
- The conviction of Jay Prakash Gupta.
- Overturning the appointment of Lokman Singh Karki to a government anti-corruption body.
Serving as Interim Prime Minister (2025–2026)
In 2025, young people led large anti-corruption protests in Nepal. These protests caused Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli to resign. An interim government was needed to guide the country. Activists suggested Karki's name because she was seen as politically neutral.
After an online poll on a platform called Discord, protesters chose Karki from five options. This made her the first government official ever selected online. Her appointment was agreed upon during talks with the Nepalese army.
President Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved the Federal Parliament of Nepal on September 12, 2025. Karki was then sworn in as interim Prime Minister. She was the first woman in Nepal's history to hold this high position. Her term as interim Prime Minister concluded on March 27, 2026.
What She Did as Prime Minister
Karki formed her cabinet starting September 15, 2025. After taking her oath, she promised to bring peace and good governance. She also vowed to end corruption and hold fair general elections in March 2026. She also declared that those who died in the protests would be honored as "martyrs."
Leaders from India, China, and the US Ambassador to Nepal congratulated Karki. They affirmed their support for her interim government. On September 13, Karki visited hospitals in Kathmandu. She met injured protesters and promised government support. On September 14, she promised to investigate protest-related vandalism. She also announced compensation for injured protesters.
On September 25, Karki announced that poorly planned government projects would be stopped. She also created a fund to repair infrastructure damaged during the protests. She lowered the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 years. This was done to encourage more young people to vote in the upcoming election.
On September 29, Karki's government suspended and froze the passports of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and other officials. This was part of her anti-corruption efforts. By October 15, 14 legal challenges were filed against her government in the Supreme Court of Nepal.
On October 18, Karki informed international diplomats about the March 2026 parliamentary elections. She emphasized her government's focus on transparency and fighting corruption. On October 21, Karki met with leaders from seven political parties. They discussed the upcoming 2026 elections.
Her Life Outside Work
Karki married Durga Prasad Subedi, who was a youth wing leader of Nepali Congress. They met while studying at Banaras Hindu University. He was her tutor. They have at least one child.
Besides her native Nepali, Karki also speaks some Hindi and English.
Writing for Change: Literary Work
Beyond her work in law and politics, Karki is also known for her writing. She uses her books to speak up for social justice and to improve institutions. Her memoir, Nyaya (Justice), was published in 2018. It shares her personal journey and fight for honesty within Nepal's legal system.
In 2019, she published her novel Kara (Prison). This book was inspired by her own time as a political prisoner. Her writings are praised for showing the link between personal values and public duty. They also highlight the challenges faced by women in the justice system.
See also
In Spanish: Sushila Karki para niños
