The government has requested President Ramchandra Paudel to authenticate a bill to amend the Citizenship Act which former President Bidya Devi Bhandari had repeatedly refused to endorse.

A Cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to request the President for endorsement, said Minister for Industry Ramesh Rijal.

Former President Bhandari had refused to authenticate the amendment bill twice.

As Bhandari retired on March 9 without authenticating the bill, now the government wants to get it endorsed by President Paudel, who was elected with the backing of the ruling coalition.

Though Bhandari’s decision has been challenged in court, the final verdict is yet to be pronounced. And now, with the end of earlier Parliament’s tenure, the bill is considered to have lapsed, according to some constitutional experts.