NEW DELHI: Delhi high court on Friday directed the Centre to clarify its position on a petition by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, urging the ministry of home affairs to decide on Rahul Gandhi’s Indian citizenship status.
A bench comprising acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela made an oral observation, requesting the Central government’s proxy counsel to obtain instructions on the matter.
“We want to have the assistance of the counsel from the state before we pass any order,” the bench remarked during the hearing.
Initially inclined to issue notice on the petition, the court was informed by the proxy counsel that the lawyer earlier representing the government had been designated a senior advocate, necessitating the appointment of a new counsel. Subsequently, the bench scheduled the matter for January 13, 2025.
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The petition, filed by advocate Satya Sabharwal on behalf of Swamy, centres on allegations that Gandhi had “voluntarily disclosed” to the British government his status as a British citizen, which allegedly violates Article 9 of the Constitution and the Indian Citizenship Act. Swamy argued that this disclosure, if true, would result in the Congress leader ceasing to be an Indian citizen.
Swamy claimed that despite sending multiple representations to the ministry, starting with a letter on August 6, 2019, no action had been taken, nor had he received any update regarding his complaint.