The Delhi High Court has granted BJP leader Subramanian Swamy additional time to submit a copy of a petition currently pending before the Allahabad High Court regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's citizenship. During Wednesday's proceedings, Swamy informed the court that he had obtained a copy of the petition and noted that the prayers outlined in that case differ from those in his own pleadings.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela instructed Swamy to file the necessary documents in electronic format, as per the court's previous order, and set the next hearing for November 6. Swamy's plea seeks directions for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address his representation aimed at canceling Gandhi's Indian citizenship. He has also requested a status report from the MHA regarding his representation against Gandhi, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
At the outset of the hearing, Swamy clarified that the pending matter in the Allahabad High Court is unrelated to his case, emphasizing that the issues raised are entirely different. In response, the bench acknowledged his statement and indicated they would review the situation.
Previously, the Delhi High Court had noted that a related petition was being heard by the Allahabad High Court, leading to its decision that two courts should not concurrently address the same issue. The court deemed it essential to understand the pending petition in Allahabad before moving forward. Swamy's plea, filed by advocate Satya Sabharwal, refers to an August 6, 2019, letter he submitted to the MHA, alleging that Gandhi "voluntarily disclosed" his British citizenship to the UK government, which would imply he holds a British passport.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has also asked the Centre about any decisions made regarding a representation under the Citizenship Act, 1955, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Karnataka BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir. He claims to have conducted extensive inquiries into allegations surrounding Gandhi's British citizenship and possesses new information on the matter.
In his plea before the Delhi High Court, Swamy argues that Gandhi, being an Indian citizen, has violated Article 9 of the Constitution in conjunction with the Indian Citizenship Act, which could result in the cessation of his Indian citizenship. He has expressed frustration over the lack of action or communication from the MHA regarding his numerous representations on the matter.