Two persons with disabilities received citizenship certificates through their mother’s name
The District Administration Office has issued Nepali citizenship certificates through the mother’s name to two persons with disabilities.
Nepali citizenship certificates were issued under the mother’s name to Deukumar Rai, 19, and Meharman Rai, 17, both siblings born to the same mother in Yamphudin, Ward No. 8 of Sirijangha Rural Municipality, who have intellectual disabilities.
The District Administration Office stated that the citizenship certificates were issued under the provisions of the Nepal Citizenship Amendment Act, 2006, which allows citizenship through the mother’s name.
This is the first time in the current fiscal year that citizenship certificates have been issued through the mother’s name to two brothers born to the same mother, the office said.
Assistant Chief District Officer Yadav Bhattarai said that the citizenship certificates were issued under the mother’s name to Deukumar Rai, 19, and Meharman Rai, 17, of Yamphudin, Ward No. 8, Srijangha Rural Municipality.
Naib Subba Durga Devi Paudel of the Citizenship Section at the District Administration Office said that the citizenship of the Rai brothers was issued under their mother, Bhoteni Rai’s name, as their father’s identity could not be established.
She further stated that due to the mother’s intellectual disability and inability to provide clear details, the father could not be identified.
Since the father’s identity could not be established, the administration issued citizenship certificates to both sons under the mother’s name, Paudel added.
Assistant Chief District Officer Yadav Bhattarai said that under the Citizenship Act, if a mother makes a self-declaration that she is unable to identify the father, citizenship can be granted on the basis of descent, stating that the father cannot be identified.
Ward Chairperson Krishna Kumar Gurung of Sirijangha Rural Municipality–8 said that the siblings, born to a mother whose children’s father could not be identified, finally received citizenship under their mother’s name after a long process.
Ward Chairperson Gurung also stated that both siblings have intellectual disabilities.
The Constitution of Nepal, 2015, under Part 2, Articles 10 to 15, contains provisions relating to citizenship.
Article 10 states that no Nepali citizen shall be deprived of the right to obtain citizenship of Nepal.