Nepal Supreme Court to review petitions against Sushila Karki’s appointment as PM

Nearly a dozen writ petitions were filed at Nepal’s Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging the appointment of Sushila Karki as Prime Minister and the dissolution of the House of Representatives. President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed Karki on September 12 and dissolved the Lower House, calling for fresh elections on March 5 next year.

The petitions argue that Karki’s appointment is unconstitutional, as it did not follow the process outlined in Article 76 of the Constitution. One petition also cites Article 132(2), which prohibits former Supreme Court justices from holding government positions. Additionally, the writs seek the reinstatement of the dissolved Lower House, claiming its dissolution violated constitutional provisions.

Legal experts argue that Karki’s appointment was based on the “doctrine of necessity,” a practice used during political crises, but not grounded in constitutional law. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has also demanded the reinstatement of the House.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba addressed party members, recalling the attacks on him and his family during the Gen-Z protests, and announced he would not run for the party presidency in the next convention. Several leaders within Nepali Congress have called for the convention to be held soon.