Nepal marked another historic milestone on Sunday as senior advocate Sabita Bhandari was appointed Attorney General, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the country.
Bhandari’s appointment was made by Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of the interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki.
Bhandari is also a past Information Commissioner at the National Information Commission. Earlier that day, the President approved the resignation of her predecessor, Ramesh Badal, an expected formality following a change in government.
This decision is seen by many as a strong statement by PM Karki, who herself made history as Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister. Karki assumed office amid intense pressure from a Gen‑Z led protest movement
demanding sweeping reforms and new leadership. In her first days in power, she vowed to heed protesters’ demands to “end corruption” as she works toward restoring trust and stability ahead of elections planned in six months.
However, the appointment of Bhandari has not been without controversy. Critics have raised concerns over her past as a legal representative of cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in a highly publicised case in which he was accused of raping a minor. Some believe this connection questions her suitability for the top legal position. Others argue that her legal credentials outweigh any past cases, The Statesman reported.
Under Nepal’s Constitution, the Attorney General is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and serves as the chief legal adviser to the government.
The unrest in Nepal that led to this change of government began after authorities imposed a ban on social media. Protests that followed fed into long‑standing grievances over the economy and governance. Within just two days, key government buildings and Parliament were set alight.
At least 72 people lost their lives and 191 suffered injuries—up from earlier counts of 51 deaths. The scale of the unrest has been described as the worst since the end of Nepal’s civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Economic issues contribute to the tension. A World Bank report states that one in five people aged 15‑24 in Nepal is unemployed. In a country of roughly 30 million, GDP per capita stands at only about US$1,447.
(With inputs from agencies)
