 "Nepal chaos: Sushila Karki front-runner to head interim govt, but she faces a legal hurdle")
Gen Z representatives of the Nepal protests met Army officials on Thursday, where they proposed Sushila Karki, former chief justice, as one of the names for the interim leader after the unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
However, the 15 representatives were divided on an official proposal, as some also suggested the names of Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, ex-speaker Onsari Gharti Magar, lawyer Om Prakash Aryal, Dr Govinda KC, Brig Gen Prem Shahi, and former chief election commissioner Neel Kantha Upreti.
Despite all of this, Karki seems the most likely frontrunner in the interim leader race. However, the final call on the post will be taken after the protest leaders meet the Nepali Army and the president for another round of talks today.
Who is Sushila Karki?
Karki began her legal career in 1979, practising law in Biratnagar. In 1985, she also took on an academic role as an assistant teacher at Mahendra Multiple Campus in Dharan. She was recognised as a senior advocate in 2007.
Her judicial journey progressed with her appointment as an ad hoc justice of the Supreme Court on January 22, 2009, followed by a permanent position on November 18, 2010. Karki served as the acting Chief Justice from April 13 to July 10, 2016, before officially taking over as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from July 11, 2016, to June 7, 2017.
During her tenure as the chief justice, Karki oversaw landmark cases on transitional justice and electoral disputes. In 2017, the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress submitted an impeachment motion against her, which was later withdrawn following public pressure.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsLegal challenge faces Karki
While Karki has accepted the responsibility of leading the country temporarily, giving a one-year timeline for a ‘fair election’ to elect honest leaders to the nation’s parliament, there is a legal hurdle that she has to overcome to become the interim leader of Nepal.
Article 132 of the Nepali Constitution, no chief justice or Supreme Court judge can hold any office other than that of a judge.
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