Sabita Bhandari Baral Becomes Nepal’s First Female Attorney General Under PM Karki
Interim PM Sushila Karki has appointed senior advocate Sabita Bhandari Baral as Attorney General, the first woman in Nepal’s history to hold the role.
Nepal has witnessed another historic first under Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki. On her recommendation, senior advocate Sabita Bhandari Baral has been appointed as the country’s new Attorney General, becoming the first woman ever to hold the position. President Ram Chandra Paudel is expected to formally endorse the appointment.
Baral, a seasoned lawyer who previously served as an Information Commissioner at the National Information Commission, is widely respected in Nepal’s legal fraternity for her years of advocacy and expertise. She succeeds former Attorney General Ramesh Badal, who stepped down in line with tradition following the change in government.
The Attorney General, one of Nepal’s most significant constitutional offices, serves as the chief legal advisor to the government and represents the state in key legal matters. Baral’s elevation to the post coincides with Nepal’s first female Prime Minister leading the interim government, reinforcing the moment as a landmark in gender representation.
Legal observers note that her appointment comes at a time when questions of justice, accountability, and the rule of law dominate Nepal’s political discourse. Analysts see this as not only a symbolic step forward for women in governance but also a critical move to strengthen the credibility of Nepal’s justice system.