Allahabad HC Asks Centre To Decide On Query About Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship; Hearing On Dec 19

A division bench comprising Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi reportedly passed an interim order on Monday (November 25), saying the Centre's course of action on the query should be apprised to the court  December 19.

The interim order came during the hearing on a plea wherein the petitioner, the same person who filed the representation with the Home Ministry, has alleged that Gandhi holds dual citizenship. The petitioner, S Vignesh Shishir, has also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into Gandhi's citizenship.

He has claimed that e-mails recieved from the UK government indicate that Gandhi holds British citizenship. The latest hearing in the matter saw Deputy Solicitor General of India SB Pandey informing the Allahabad HC that Vignesh's representation has indeed been received by the Centre and is under due process, as per Bar and Bench.

"List this matter on 19th of December, 2024. The outcome of the representation shall be apprised to the Court on the next date of listing," Bar and Bench quoted the November 25 order of the Allahabad High Court as saying.

"The court has ordered that a clear and final decision be made on the matter by December 19, the next date of hearing. The home ministry also has to communicate to the court its findings in the matter," Vignesh was quoted as saying by NDTV.

He added, "I am hoping that the government will promptly revoke the Indian citizenship of Rahul Gandhi. We have received direct communication from the UK government that Mr Gandhi's name is in their citizenship records."