Allahabad High Court seeks clarity from Centre on Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship; next hearing on May 5
PTC Web Desk: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday heard a petition challenging the citizenship of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, questioning whether he holds dual nationality — specifically, British citizenship in addition to Indian. During the hearing, the court directed the Central Government to submit a clear and detailed response within 10 days, clarifying whether Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen or not.
The directive came during proceedings on a petition filed by BJP worker and advocate Vignesh Shishir, who has alleged that Rahul Gandhi is not solely an Indian citizen.
The Union Government had submitted a status report through Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Suryabhan Pandey, but the court found the report inadequate and sought further clarification. The Bench emphasised the national significance of the matter, stating that no delay would be acceptable in a case of such importance.
ASG Pandey informed the court that no lawyer had appeared on behalf of Rahul Gandhi during this hearing. The court asked the Centre to provide a categorical answer regarding Rahul’s citizenship status. The matter is now scheduled for its next hearing on May 5, 2025.
Timeline of the case
The petition was first heard on December 19, 2024, when a Bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla directed the ASG to obtain necessary information from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The MHA informed the court that it had written a letter to the UK Government seeking verification of Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship.
In a subsequent hearing on March 24, 2025, the Bench of Justice AR Masoodi and Justice Ajay Kumar Srivastava directed the state government to file a status report within four weeks.
However, the government requested eight weeks instead. As a result, April 21 was fixed as the date for the next hearing, which took place today.
Details of the petition
The controversy stems from a petition filed by BJP leader and advocate Vignesh Shishir on July 1, 2024, in the Allahabad High Court. The petition alleges that Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship, citing confidential emails from the UK Government dated 2022.
Shishir has sought cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s Indian citizenship under Section 9(2) of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, which deals with loss of citizenship due to acquisition of foreign nationality. He further requested that Rahul’s election from the Rae Bareli constituency in 2024 be declared invalid, claiming that he is ineligible to contest Indian elections as a British citizen.
The petitioner stated he is in possession of official documents and emails from British authorities that allegedly confirm Rahul Gandhi’s foreign citizenship status.
Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congress leader and former president of the party, won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli, a traditional Gandhi family stronghold. Before Rae Bareli, he was the MP from Amethi, another Congress bastion, which he lost in the 2019 General Election.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Centre to provide a comprehensive reply within 10 days and made it clear that further delays will not be entertained. The matter will now come up for hearing again on May 5.
- With inputs from agencies
