KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The Supreme Court’s verdict on a petition related to the citizenship dispute of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is likely to be pronounced today.
According to sources, the justices are preparing to pronounce the verdict today itself. The justices are now deliberating on the verdict.
Earlier today, the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court concluded the hearing on the writ petition against Minister Lamichhane.
Today, some lawyers argued on behalf of Lamichhane, while the writ petitioner's lawyer responded to their arguments.
Earlier on Wednesday, after the hearing was not completed in the court, it was kept under observation for today. The final hearing on the case was concluded earlier today.
Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki, and Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada, Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Anil Kumar Sinha are in the bench.
Questioning Lamichhane's eligibility to be a member of parliament, advocate Rabiraj Basaula and others filed a petition on December 14 demanding the cancellation of Lamichhane's position as a member of parliament (MP).
The constitutional bench held a hearing on January 6 and discussed the issue of whether or not to issue an interim order on January 6. The bench fixed a full hearing for January 25.
In the petition, it was claimed that Rabi Lamichhane had seriously violated the constitution and the law by saying that he had registered a party and was elected as an office-bearer while he did not retain his Nepali citizenship after obtaining American citizenship. Rabi Lamichhane, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Election Commission, Federal Parliament and District Administration Office Kathmandu were made defendants in the petition.