CJ Karki assumes office; with profile of first woman CJ

Kathmandu / July 11: Newly-appointed Chief Justice Sushila Karki took charge today immediately after taking the oath of office and secrecy from the President.

Speaking in a press conference after assuming office at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Karki expressed commitment to abide by the constitution and the prevailing laws in letter and spirit.

She stated that emphasis would be laid on implementation of the constitution as it is the supreme law of the land, noting that the Supreme Court has issued orders to amend the laws that contravene with the constitution and would do so in future also.

“The country has adopted federalism and is divided in seven provinces; the constitution has provision of keeping a high court each in every province, but this province has not yet been implemented,” she said, adding that the biggest challenge during her term would be to set up the high courts in each province and resolving the issue of adjusting the chief judges of the 16 Appellate Courts.

The Chief Justice mentioned the constitution of the Commission on Access to Justice for reaching justice to the marginalised and underprivileged population.

She added that arrangements have also been made by which the service-seekers could take date of hearing of their case from districts outside the Kathmandu Valley also and work would be carried out for having rapid and continual hearing also.

Noting that monitoring was also being carried out to check the anomalies and aberrations in the judiciary, she vowed to emphasise on implementation of court decisions in the coming days.

“You may talk of Maoist leader Bal Krishna Dhungel in the case of implementing court decisions. It is not the judges who are to arrest him but the police do not arrest and put him behind bars,” she said referring to non-implementation of the Supreme Court decision regarding a case from the conflict-era involving Dhungel.

The Chief Justice also stated that preparations were being made to making the courts paperless in the upcoming days, expressing commitment to implementing this in an effective way. She said preparations were also being made to have provision for payment of amount to the court through the banking system.

Chief Justice Karki’s term is of 11 months.

Brief Profile of Karki
The first woman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sushila Karki, has assumed responsibility formally from today creating history in the country.

Karki, who is the 25th Chief Justice, today took oath of office and secrecy from President Bidya Devi Bhandari. She has become the first woman Chief Justice in the 64 years history of the SC. The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee had on Sunday approved the name of Karki recommended by the Constitutional Council on April 10 for her appointment to the post. Karki has now become the first woman Chief Justice.

She had been working as Acting Chief Justice for around three months for lack of hearing following delay in formation of PHSC.

Karki has been appointed as Chief Justice on the basis of seniority, capacity and qualification after the then CJ Kalyan Shrestha got retirement on April 12 due to age bar.

Born on June 8, 1952 at Shankerpur-3, Biratnagar, Karki would remain on the post for around 11 months.

She completed her Bachelors’ level from Mahendra Morang campus in 2028 BS and Master Degree in political science from Banaras University in 2031 BS. Kaeki had started her legal journey after completing Bachelor in Law (BL) from Tribhuvan University in 2034 BS and made legal sector as her working area from March 29, 1979 being an advocate. She also taught at Mahendra Morang Multiple Campus, Dharan, for three years (2042-2046 BS).

Being a chairperson of the Koshi Zonal Bar from 2045 BS-2047 BS, Karki became chairperson of the Biratnagar Appellate Bar from 2059 BS-2061 BS.

She became an Advocate on 20 December 2004 and a temporary judge at the Supreme Court on 22 January 2009. She went on to become the Permanent Judge at the Supreme Court on 18 November 2010.

Chief Justice Karki has visited America, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Japan, China, India, Tanzania and the Netherlands, among other countries. She is proficient in Nepali, English and Hindi.

Karki worked as a lawyer for more than three decades and as the judge at the apex court for seven years.

Known for her boldness and leading a simple life, Karki is considered a person with an impeccable image in the judicial sector. Three women have become successful in reaching high offices after the promulgation of the new constitution in the country. Along with President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti, Karki has the honour of taking up the responsibility of the Chief Justice of Nepal. RSS