Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has announced that the new Bill to amend the Citizenship Act-2063 BS (2006) seeks to recognize the mother as the primary patron of a child, empowering her with the right to solely declare and assume responsibility for the child’s citizenship.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Lekhak addressed concerns during discussions on the Nepal Citizenship Bill-2081 BS at the Legislation Management Committee under the National Assembly. He emphasized that the Bill’s primary objective is to ensure mothers have full rights to pass on citizenship to their children, particularly when the child’s father cannot be presented. The Minister further clarified that the provision does not exclusively grant rights to mothers, as the Bill includes measures for legal inquiry and penalties if a false declaration is made.
Minister Lekhak pointed out the severe challenges faced by children without citizenship, particularly in their education and career development. He also discussed the amendments concerning naturalized Nepali citizenship, which would require a mother’s declaration that her child has not acquired foreign citizenship based on the father’s nationality. This marks a change from the current law, where only the applicant for naturalized citizenship must make such a declaration.
The Bill also proposes eligibility for children to obtain citizenship in the mother’s name if the father is deceased, not supportive, or married to another person. “We have simplified the procedures for transferring citizenship in the mother’s name,” Minister Lekhak stated. He reminded the committee of the Supreme Court’s directive to the government concerning the issuance of citizenship in the mother’s name.