KATHMANDU, Dec 27: The Supreme Court (SC) has decided to refer the dispute over the national identity card to a full bench for further hearing.
Justices Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Nityananda Pandey on Friday decided that all the cases related to the dispute should be presided over by the full bench.
Petitioners' call for full bench rejected, Constitutional bench...
Advocates Ram Bahadur Rawal and Bimal Pokharel had filed separate writ petitions, arguing that the mandatory requirement for the national identity card was causing inconvenience to citizens in some areas. Following the initial hearing, the SC had issued an interim order halting its implementation.
Subsequently, the government filed two petitions requesting the cancellation of the interim order. The joint bench has now sent the case to a three-member bench for resolution, citing the need to address serious legal issues and potential differences of opinion between the justices.
The government had earlier decided to make the national identity card mandatory for receiving social security allowances in 28 districts and for purchasing mobile SIM cards. The petitioners argued that this could negatively impact senior citizens who rely on social security benefits.
