Nepal’s Sushila Karki and her India connection

Nepal has been thrown into chaos after days of deadly protests led by Gen-Z demonstrators forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli out of power. The unrest, fuelled by anger over corruption and the government’s sweeping ban on social media platforms, left the Himalayan nation on edge.

With the army now in charge of security, all eyes are on the push to form an interim government that can bring back some stability. In a surprising turn, the protesters have chosen Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first and only woman Chief Justice, as their pick for interim prime minister.

Known for her fearless stance against corruption, including sending a minister to jail during her tenure, Karki’s story goes beyond Nepal. She also shares a personal connection with India, one she often remembers fondly from her student days at Banaras Hindu University.

Here’s a closer look at her journey and her India link.

‘I still remember Ganga’

Sushila Karki’s connection with India goes back to her youth. Long before she became Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, Karki spent some of her most formative years studying across the border.

She spoke in Hindi, too, “I am a citizen of Biratnagar, near the border of India. Maybe from my house, (India) is only 25 miles.” She said she went regularly to the market at the border.

She graduated from Mahendra Morang College in Biratnagar before moving to India, where she pursued a Master’s degree in Political Science at the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

In an interview with CNN News18 on Wednesday, she fondly recalled those years. “I still remember my teachers, friends. I still remember the river Ganga. Beside the Ganga, there was a hostel. And at night in the summer, we would sleep on the (terrace),” she said.

She said BHU not only gave her an academic foundation but also opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

Sharing anecdotes from her college days, Karki remembered learning dance from Sushila Aama, the spouse of former Prime Minister BP Koirala, and receiving political lessons from Nepali Congress leader Pradip Giri.

She even revealed that she was once offered a chance to stay back at BHU as a teacher and pursue a PhD. But that path never materialised. “Perhaps my destiny was different. I feel I was destined to be a judge, and that is why I could not pursue my PhD there,” she said.

Eventually, Karki returned to Nepal and studied law at Tribhuvan University. By the late 1970s, she had begun her legal career, which would see her rise steadily until her appointment as a Supreme Court justice in 2009.

It was the KP Oli-led Constitutional Council that proposed Sushila Karki as the chief justice of the Nepal Supreme Court in 2016.

‘Very much impressed with Indian leaders’

Karki has often spoken warmly about India and its ties with Nepal, and in her recent comments, she struck the same note.

Speaking in a news interview, she extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared her admiration. “I have a good impression of Modi ji. We have not been in touch with India today… for many days,” she said.

Karki added that she has always been “very much impressed” with Indian leaders, describing them as more like family than neighbours. “We consider them as our own brothers and sisters,” she remarked.

When asked about her expectations from India, she was candid. “India has helped Nepal at all times. We are very close… (But) there is a saying (in Hindi): ‘When there are utensils kept together in the kitchen, they do make some sound.’ It happens,” she explained, hinting at the occasional frictions between the two countries.

She also reassured Indians living in Nepal about their safety. According to her, the army has moved in to restore order, and she promised that justice would be delivered to the families of those who lost their lives during the violence.

The unrest, which flared up just days ago, has claimed at least 20 lives and left more than 300 injured. Thousands of students, tourists, and migrant workers, many of whom are Indian, remain stuck in the country, trying to find a safe way back home.

Why is Sushila Karki chosen by Gen Z?

Sushila Karki, who made history in 2016 as Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, has long been seen as a fearless and independent voice in the country’s judiciary.

During her years on the bench, she delivered several landmark rulings that earned her respect across the country.

In 2012, she ordered the conviction of Jaya Prakash Gupta on corruption charges, making him the first sitting minister in Nepal to be jailed for graft. She also presided over cases involving corruption in peacekeeping missions and the controversial Nijgadh Fast Track project.

On the progressive front, she issued rulings that allowed Nepali women to pass citizenship to their children, breaking long-standing legal barriers.

It was this track record that made her the candidate of choice for the Gen Z protesters. According to journalist Bhadra Sharma, more than 5,000 members took part in a virtual meeting that lasted four hours, where the majority voted in favour of Karki with 58.9 per cent.

“We have proposed Sushila Karki as head of new government. The same proposal is being formalised today after consulting with the Army Chief,” Gen Z leader Rakshya Bam was quoted as saying.

Interestingly, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, once tipped as the frontrunner, did not receive a favourable response (32 per cent) from the protest leaders, which cleared the way for Karki to emerge as their unanimous pick.

Legal hurdle in Karki’s appointment

While Karki has agreed to take on the role temporarily and has promised to hold a fair election within a year, her appointment comes with a significant legal challenge.

Nepal’s Constitution bars former chief justices and Supreme Court judges from holding any office other than that of a judge, as outlined in Article 132. This restriction could complicate her elevation to the post of interim prime minister.

Karki herself has had a turbulent history with Nepal’s political establishment. In 2017, her rulings angered the government, leading the ruling coalition to register an impeachment motion against her.

She was accused of bias and of interfering in executive powers, particularly over a dispute concerning the appointment of a police chief. Though she was briefly suspended, the motion was later withdrawn following a court intervention, allowing her to return to her post.

Despite these hurdles, Karki has said she is prepared to serve in the national interest and is humbled by the faith the young generation has placed in her.

“Gen-Z Group has trusted me to lead the government for a short period of time. I am ready to work in the national interest,” the 71-year-old said.

With input from agencies

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