Two brothers granted citizenship in mother’s name

By Chandra Pandak,Taplejung, Apr. 16: Two brothers in Taplejung have been granted Nepali citizenship in their mother’s name. The brothers, from the same household in Sirijangha Rural Municipality-8, Yamphudin, received their citizenship certificates through their mother’s identity.

According to the District Administration Office, the brothers are Mehraman Rai and Deukumar Rai of Yamphudin. Their citizenship certificates were issued in the name of their mother, Bhoteni Rai, as their father’s identity could not be established, said Durga Devi Paudel, Nayab Subba at the citizenship section of the office. Officials said the mother is disabled and unable to speak, and because of her condition she could not clearly provide details needed to identify the father. 

As his identity remains unknown, the administration office issued citizenship certificates to the two sons using their mother’s name and surname, Poudel said.

Yadav Bhattarai, Information Officer and Assistant Chief District Officer at the District Administration Office, said this is the first time citizenship has been issued in the mother’s name in the current fiscal year. He said the brothers were granted citizenship by descent under the provisions of the Nepali Citizenship Amendment Bill-2063 BS. 

According to the law, if a mother self-declares that the father’s name cannot be disclosed, citizenship by descent may be granted where the father’s identity cannot be determined.

Krishna Kumar Gurung, ward chair of Yamphudin, said the brothers, born to the same mother with no confirmed paternal identity, received citizenship after a long effort.  He added that both brothers have mental disabilities.

Former ward chair Tashi Lama said attempts to secure their citizenship had been under way since his tenure.