SC clears path for implementation of amended Citizenship Act, rejects continuation of interim order

Kathmandu / June 22: The Supreme Court has paved the way for the implementation of the amended provisions made in the Citizenship Amendment Bill certified earlier by President Ram Chandra Paudel.

The apex court paved the way for its implementation as it did not issue order to continue with the short-term interim order it had issued earlier to not implement the amended provisions of the Citizenship Act.

A Division Bench of Justices Anand Mohan Bhattarai and Kumar Regmi ordered not to continue with the short term interim order issued earlier by Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.

The apex court order paves the way for the children of those who received Nepali citizenship on the basis of birth to get citizenship on the basis of descent.

Earlier last year, the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari had put the Citizenship Bill passed by the Federal Parliament on hold without certifying it.

But the same bill was approved by President Paudel on May 31. Senior advocates Surendra Bhandari and Balkrishna Neupane had filed a writ at the apex court saying that the President’s move to validate the bill was against the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the citizenship-less individuals gathered at Maitighar Mandala on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the recent order by the apex court, which paves the way for them to acquire citizenship certificates. The apex court order enables the children of those who acquired citizenship by birth earlier to obtain citizenship by descent.

For years, these individuals have faced numerous obstacles, including the inability to travel abroad, pursue higher education, or even open a bank account due to the lack of citizenship certificates.The stateless individuals had been staging protests at Maitighar Mandala, putting pressure on the government to make the necessary arrangements for acquiring citizenship certificates.