Supreme Court Issues Interim Order To Pause Implementation of Citizenship Bill

The Supreme Court of Nepal on Sunday issued a short-term interim order against the citizenship bill that was approved by incumbent President Ram Chandra Poudel on earlier on Wednesday.

A single bench comprising Judge Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma granted the interim order and adjourned proceedings for both parties until the 26th of the Nepali month.

The stay order has come in response to a writ petition filed jointly by senior advocates Balkrishna Neupane and Surendra Bhandari, who had challenged the citizenship bill.

The petitioners had demanded nullification of the Citizenship Bill, arguing that the bill had died with the end of the tenure of the House of Representatives and President Paudel could not revive the bill now.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Council of Ministers and Article 61 (2),(3), (4) and Article 66 along with the principle enunciated by the Supreme Court, the pending, much-contested, Citizenship Bill had been approved by President Ram Chandra Paudel.

Meanwhile, on Sunday opposition parties Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party including major opposition CPN (UML) had obstructed the parliament proceedings demanding the disapproval of the citizenship bill and open sessions for discussion on the same.

READ ALSO: President Paudel Approves Contentious Citizenship Bill