Former Special Court Chair Karki Likely to Lead Judicial Probe into Gen Z-led Protests

Gauri Bahadur Karki, former Chairperson of the Special Court, is likely to lead the judicial inquiry commission the government is set to form to investigate the crackdown and destruction during the Gen Z-led protests of September 8 and 9.

In a conversation with Arthik Abhiyan, New Business Age’s sister publication, Karki confirmed that the government had approached him to head the commission.

“I told the government that capable and honest individuals should be appointed. There are people more qualified than me in the country—for instance, former Supreme Court justices Balaram KC, Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Ishwar Khatiwada, or even sitting justices. If they were on the commission, it would be more effective,” said Karki.

Still, he noted that he was prepared to take responsibility. Karki said he had recommended separate inquiries into the September 8 and 9 incidents, but the government intends to investigate both through a single commission.

The protests began on September 8, when youths in major cities across the country took to the streets against corruption and the ban on more than two dozen social media platforms imposed by the KP Sharma Oli government.

Tensions escalated after demonstrators broke barricades and clashed with security forces. In Kathmandu, police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds at New Baneshwar as protesters marched towards the Federal Parliament. A violent crackdown followed, with police opening fire. By the end of the day, around two dozen protesters were reported dead.

Although then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned that evening and the government lifted the social media ban, anger only deepened. Defying curfew orders on September 9, mobs—reportedly infiltrated by various groups—vandalised and torched public and private properties, including residences of politicians, government buildings, courts, police stations, media houses, Bhatbhateni supermarkets, hotels, and vehicle showrooms.

The death toll has since crossed six dozen, while many others remain under treatment in hospitals.

On September 12, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister with a mandate to hold elections within six months. President Ram Chandra Paudel dissolved Parliament on her recommendation.

On September 15, the Cabinet, which included the newly appointed Energy, Home, and Finance ministers, decided in principle to establish a judicial inquiry commission into the crackdown and destruction during the protests.