#news #Nepal #CitizenshipBill
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Vimala Ghimire, has emphasized the need for prompt amendments to the Citizenship Act of 2063 for its swift approval. Speaking at a program organized by the Women Law and Development Forum today, Ghimire highlighted the importance of aligning the provisions made by the constitution with the implementation in the bill to move forward.
Representing Kansai Nepal News, Ramesh Khatri shared his views on the matter. Khatri expressed concerns over the delays in passing the bill and stressed the importance of addressing the issues faced by citizens. He believes that once the Citizenship Bill is enacted, it will lead to solutions for various challenges faced by the public.
While discussing the political implications of the bill, Ghimire urged all political parties to be sensitive to linguistic errors despite their ideological perspectives. He emphasized the importance of careful consideration to ensure that sensitive matters like citizenship are addressed accurately.
Moreover, Ghimire mentioned that officials at the district administration offices should be able to rectify mistakes promptly to avoid complications arising from the lack of implementation due to bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Regarding the essence of citizenship, Ghimire stressed the need to link citizenship not just with identity documents but also with political, economic, and social rights. He emphasized the legal connection between individuals and the state as an integral aspect of citizenship.
In response to the discussions, Sabin Shrestha, the Director of the forum, called for a thorough deliberation and emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in granting citizenship to ensure responsible citizenship.
The Citizenship Bill, passed earlier in a meeting of the House of Representatives, has now been submitted to the National Assembly for approval. Once passed and endorsed by both houses, it will undergo the process of authentication.
The bill includes provisions for individuals to claim citizenship based on their parents’ nationality, with specific guidelines for cases where the relationship with one parent is not established. Additionally, the bill allows for the provision of citizenship to the children of Nepali citizens who have returned from foreign employment or have been born abroad.
In cases where only one parent is a citizen and the child does not have information about the other parent, the bill provides for the issuance of a minor’s identity card until the age of majority.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: July 4, 2025 7:00 pm
