Supreme Court Petition Filed Against Appointment of Sushila Karki as Prime Minister

A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, contesting the legality of President Ram Chandra Paudel’s decision to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as prime minister following the Gen Z movement. The petition, submitted by Advocate Dr. Punya Prasad Khatri, argues that the appointment violates constitutional provisions, particularly Article 80, which bars a former chief justice from assuming the office of prime minister. It also alleges that Articles 76 and 132(2) were breached in the process. The speaker of the House of Representatives, chairperson of the National Assembly, and several political parties have been named as respondents.

Dr. Khatri further contends that the president acted beyond his constitutional authority, noting that the Constitution of Nepal 2072 does not grant the head of state the power to remove obstacles once the period under Article 305 has expired. He maintains that invoking the “doctrine of necessity” to justify the move is impermissible, calling the appointment unconstitutional and procedurally unsound.