Delhi HC Seeks Update from Allahabad HC on Rahul Gandhi Citizenship Case

The Delhi High Court has requested the Centre to obtain details of a petition pending in the Allahabad High Court regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship. This comes as a similar petition is being heard in both courts, with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking cancellation of Gandhi's Indian citizenship.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to obtain a copy of a petition pending before the Allahabad High Court on the issue of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship.

The court stated that a similar petition is also being heard by the Allahabad High Court, and two courts cannot handle the same issue concurrently.

Before proceeding further, the court deemed it necessary to understand the status of the pending petition in the Allahabad High Court to ensure justice.

“We read in the newspaper that Allahabad High Court is also seized of the controversy. Two courts cannot deal with the same issue simultaneously.

“You (Centre) check up the status of the petition at Allahabad High Court and also obtain a copy of the petition. We just want to be doubly sure that we are not taking over someone else's jurisdiction,” remarked Chief Justice designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

The bench was hearing a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who sought directions to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to rule on his representation for canceling Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship.

Swamy’s plea, filed by advocate Satya Sabharwal, included allegations that Gandhi had claimed British citizenship, which would necessitate holding a British passport. Swamy requested that the MHA furnish a status report on this matter.

The Centre’s counsel requested additional time to obtain a copy of the petition from the Allahabad High Court. The Delhi HC bench has listed further hearings for October 9.

On the previous day, the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench inquired whether the Centre had made any decision on a representation questioning Gandhi's citizenship status under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

This hearing was a response to a public interest litigation (PIL) moved by BJP worker S Vignesh Shishir from Karnataka, who claimed to have extensive new information about Gandhi’s alleged British citizenship.

Swamy argued in the Delhi High Court that if Gandhi maintained British citizenship, this contradicted Article 9 of the Constitution in conjunction with the Indian Citizenship Act, causing him to forfeit his Indian citizenship. Swamy noted that despite numerous representations to the MHA, no action or response has been received.

(With inputs from agencies.)