SC issues short-term interim order not to implement new Citizenship Act

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) issued a short-term interim order on Sunday, preventing the immediate implementation of the Nepal Citizenship (first amendment) Act, 2079.

A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma, issuing a show cause notice to summon both sides for discussion, ordered a temporary halt on implementation of the new Citizenship Act.

The court’s decision came in response to a writ petition filed by senior advocates Surendra Bhandari and Balkrishna Neupane.

The petition was filed on June 2 at the apex court challenging the authentication of the Citizenship Bill by President Paudel to amend the Citizenship Act, 2063.

President Ram Chandra Paudel earlier on May 31 had authenticated the Citizenship Bill.

The Bill was later made public in the Nepal Gazette after the authentication.

A cabinet meeting held on May 26 had requested President Paudel to authenticate the bill which the then President  Bidya Devi Bhandari had refused to authenticate.