Writ filed against decision to authenticate Citizenship Bill

KATHMANDU: A writ petition has been registered in the Supreme Court against President Ram Chandra Poudel’s decision to authenticate the Nepal Citizenship Act (Amendment) Bill.

Senior Advocates Dr. Surendra Bhandari and Bal Krishna Neupane filed the writ petition on Friday. The apex court has scheduled a preliminary hearing on the writ for Sunday.

Arguing that the President’s decision to authenticate the bill endorsed by the previous parliament is illegal, the petitioners have sought a mandamus for revocation of the validation of the Bill. Similarly, they have also sought an interim order to review certain provisions in the Bill and to distribute citizenship as per Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 2063, until a final verdict is passed.

The petitioners have suggested that temporary documents be issued to people who have not been able to continue their studies or do business due to a lack of citizenship certificate.