President Ramchandra Poudel on Wednesday authenticated the bill to amend the Citizenship Act.

President’s Legal Adviser Baburam Kunwar informed that the President has authenticated the bill to amend the Citizenship Act.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, the President authenticated the bill as per Article 61 (2) (3) (4) and Article 66 of the Constitution of Nepal and in accordance with the principle propounded by the Supreme Court after receiving a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers requesting the authentication of the amendment bill.

The government following a Cabinet meeting on May 26 had requested President Paudel to authenticate the bill which former President Bidya Devi Bhandari had repeatedly refused to endorse.

The bill’s passage has cleared the way to citizenship for up to 400,000 people who have been deprived of their constitutional rights and remain stateless in their own country.

Earlier, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari had refused to authenticate the amendment bill, twice. Bhandari returned the bill to the House of Representatives for a review with her 15-point concerns and suggestions on August 14 last year. Both the Houses of the Federal Parliament endorsed the bill as it was, without considering Bhandari’s suggestions.

When the bill was sent to the President’s Office for authentication for a second time, Bhandari let the 15-day deadline pass. Bhandari retired on March 9 without authenticating the bill.