Draft bill has provision on descent by mother's name: Home Minister Lekhak

Kathmandu, Sept 3: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said Nepal citizenship bill (2nd amendment) includes provision that recognizes descent by mother's name as well.     

Home Minister Lekhak informed the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday that the bill had guaranteed the citizenship by mother's name as well. "It is a historic departure. One can be termed a descendent even by mother's name. This provision guarantees the citizenship to anyone whose father's identity is unknown."     

In a bid to facilitate the foreign visit of the persons under 16 years and having one among the parents a Nepali citizen, they would be issued the juvenile identity cards. "As per constitution, no Nepali citizen would be deprived of citizenship certificate. The constitutional arrangement on acquisition of citizenship to those born to the Nepali mother would be fully implemented," he explained, adding that those born to the parents (mother or father) having citizenship by birth would get the naturalized citizenship.     

The children born to the Nepali women during foreign employment but left deprived of identity could get the naturalized citizenship, according to him.(RSS)