President assents Citizenship Bill

President Ramchandra Paudel has given his assent to the bill designed to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063. The President gave his assent to the bill in accordance with Article 61, Sub-articles (2), (3), (4) and Article 66 of the Constitution of Nepal, as well as the principle propounded by the Supreme Court, stated a press release issued today by Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Office of the President.

The Office of the President said the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has written to the Office of the President for giving assent to the bill, mentioning various conditions and situation as the bill has not got the assent so far for it to become an Act. It is also mentioned that the Government of Nepal, Council of Ministers on May 26 had recommended to the President for his assent to the bill.

Both the Houses of the Federal Parliament had passed the Nepal Citizenship (First Amendment) Bill, 2079 designed to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063. The Bill was tabled in the House on July 31, 2022. Then Speaker of the House of Representatives had authenticated the Bill on July 31, 2022 and forwarded it to the then President for her assent. The then President had sent back the Bill to the Federal Parliament for reconsideration, calling attention to some topics.

The Federal Parliament on September 5, 2022 sent the Bill again to the President for assent after holding discussions on the topics on which the then President had drawn attention to in both Houses of the Federal Parliament.