Legitimate acquisition of citizenship will be simplified: Home Minister Lekhak

Kathmandu, Dec 27: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has said that the acquisition of citizenship in accordance with the Constitution and laws would be eased.     

The Home Minister said this while receiving the report submitted by the Citizenship Problem Resolution Study Committee at the Ministry in Singha Durbar on Friday.     

"Those people eligible for the citizenship as per the Constitution and the related laws should get the citizenship. However, there should not be a situation in which ineligible people get the citizenship. We are explicit on these two things," he asserted.     

Stating that the citizenship is a highly sensitive issue, Home Minister Lekhak said this topic should be considered seriously and in a responsible manner.     

"Citizenship should not be denied in the name of procedural hassles and the verdicts related to citizenship given by the Honourable Supreme Court from time to time should be respected. Directives have been frequently issued in this connection. The government is moving ahead to resolve the problems seen in the acquisition of citizenship taking all these things into consideration," he added.     

The Committee prepared its report with recommendations after studying the court verdicts, the existing legal provisions and the complications seen on the topic of citizenship distribution at various District Administration Offices.     

Minister Lekhak said that the Ministry will minutely study the report and implement it.     

The report includes recommendations on various topics, including the topic of making issuance of citizenship to children born of mother holding the Nepali citizenship.     

The Ministry of Home Affairs had formed the five-member Committee on August 16. Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dr Tok Raj Pandey was its convenor. (RSS)