Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a press conference at Congress headquarters on December 19, 2024. Photo courtesy: Shivkumar Pushpakar
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday said that the central government is the competent authority to decide on citizenship-related matters. The oral observations were made in the Lok Sabha during the hearing of a petition seeking a court direction for a CBI probe into the alleged British citizenship of Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh also prayed the court to issue directions to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh and Returning Officer of Rae Bareli in a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir. To cancel Mr. Gandhi’s election certificate.
Mr Shishir’s social media profile says he is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In his petition, he claimed that he had submitted a detailed representation-cum-complaint to the Foreign Division of the Union Home Ministry, in which he requested the authorities concerned to revoke the Indian citizenship of Mr. Gandhi under the rules and regulations of Section 9(2). Citizenship Act 1955 read with Rule 40(2) and Schedule III of Citizenship Rules 2009. 2009 Rules.
During the hearing on Thursday (December 19, 2024), the petitioner told the court that he has details from the United Kingdom government, which prove that the Congress leader is a British citizen.
Taking into account the plea submitted by the Deputy Solicitor General of India Suryabhan Pandey that the Ministry of Home Affairs needs more time to decide on behalf of the petitioner, the High Court has adjourned the next hearing of the case to Chait 11th.
The court also rejected the petitioner’s request asking the CBI to submit a status report on the case, citing that the central agency has its own jurisdiction.
published – December 19, 2024 at 10:26 pm IST