These could be reason why Prez Bhandari did not authenticate the citizenship bill

KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Bhimarjun Acharya, constitution expert, has given some possible reasons for President Bidhya Devi Bhandari not authenticating the citizenship bill.

Talking with Ratopati, Acharya maintained that the tenure of the House of Representatives (HoR) ended on September 18. In this condition, as per the Article 111 (10) of the Constitution of Nepal, even though the session of a House is prorogued while a Bill is under its consideration, deliberations on the Bill may continue at the succeeding session. Provided that if the House of Representatives is dissolved or its term expires when any Bill introduced in the House of Representatives is under its consideration or when any Bill passed by the House of Representatives is under consideration in the National Assembly, such Bill shall lapse. 

“This could be a reason why President Bhandari did not authenticate the bill.”

“Besides, the government returned the bill without making any changes despite the President's demand to review it. This could also be another reason,” added Acharya. 

According to Acharya, the bill can be moved forward once again by the new HoR to be elected from the upcoming election. “Even though a session of a House is prorogued while a Bill is under its consideration, deliberations on the Bill may continue at the succeeding session.”

“Likewise, the government can introduce an ordinance related to the citizenship bill but it will be inappropriate at the time when the election of the federal and provincial levels have already been announced,” said Acharya.