Nepal to have first woman chief justice

After its first woman president and speaker, Nepal is set to have its first woman chief justice.

A meeting of the Judicial Council on Monday recommended Sushila Karki, the seniormost judge in Nepal's Supreme Court, as the next chief justice of the country.

The Judicial Council decided to forward her name to the Constitutional Council headed by the prime minister which is responsible for approving the head of the judiciary.

Karki will take charge once President Bidhya Devi Bhandari clears her nomination.

She will take charge after April 13 when incumbent Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha retires, Judicial Council Secretary Krishna Giri said after the meeting.

Karki's recommendation was hailed by the social media.

Karki is known to be a fearless judge with zero tolerance for corruption.

She holds a post-graduate degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University in India.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)