Jan 27, Kathmandu- The Supreme Court ruled on the citizenship dispute of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who is also the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and said that he is unfit to be a member of the House of Representatives.

On Friday, the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that Lamichhane, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, is ineligible to be a Member of Parliament as he has not completed the process for re-acquiring his citizenship, which has become inactive, after taking American citizenship. With this verdict, Lamichhane's position as a member of parliament has been revoked.

The court held that since Lamichhane has acquired American citizenship and has not completed the process of regaining Nepalese citizenship, he is not legally eligible to be a candidate for a member of the House of Representatives.

Lamichhane was elected from Chitwan 2 in the House of Representatives election held on November 20. With the Supreme Court ruling that he is unfit to be a Member of Parliament, by-elections have to be held in that area.