Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court in Kathmandu has finished hearing a case related to the citizenship of Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs.
The bench is composed of Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and Judges Bishwambar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, and Anil Kumar Sinha.
According to sources at the Supreme Court, lawyers representing both sides have finished their arguments. Justices are currently holding a discussion before issuing a final verdict.
The bench had previously ordered the government to provide documents submitted by Lamichhane to the Department of Immigration, as well as any actions taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Immigration Department, and the District Administration Office in Kathmandu in response to those documents.
Advocates Rabiraj Basaula and others had filed a writ petition questioning the qualifications of Lamichhane to be a member of the House of Representatives. Stating that Lamichhane registered a political party, contested the election for the House of Representatives, and was elected without obtaining Nepali citizenship, the advocates sought a court declaration that his election was invalid.
Lamichhane had sent a letter to the Supreme Court arguing that he is a Nepali citizen.
