Photos by Prakash Chandra Timilsena

The first woman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sushila Karki, formally assumed office on Monday, creating history in Nepal's judiciary. 

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.

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 7, 1952, Karki began her legal practice in March 1979. She was appointed an ad-hoc justice at the SC on January 22, 2009 and was promoted to a permanent justice on November 18, 2010. She will head the judiciary till June 6, 2017.

The Constitutional Council on April 10 had recommended her as the CJ. However, since the major political parties were at loggerheads over the number of members in the new PHSC, her appointment was delayed in the absence of parliamentary hearing—a constitutional requirement.

The committee will next hear from 11 justice and 21 ambassador nominees. On Friday, the committee unanimously passed Ayodhee Prasad Yadav as the chief election commissioner.

Karki’s appointment gives Nepal three women in top positions including Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the President and Onsari Gharti Magar as the Speaker of Parliament.

Also read: Newly appointed CJ Karki takes oath of office and secrecy