The Supreme Court issued an interim order to the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday to immediately stop distributing the voter identity cards. Justice Prakash Wasti has issued a stay order on voter registration processes until the case is finalised.

The Apex Court issued the order in response to a writ filed on 23 November by general secretary of Janamorcha Nepal, Sadhya Bahadur Bhandari and advocates Rishiram Ghimire and Saroj Raj Pyakurel. The writ was filed following the EC’s decision to register voters without citizenship certificates as demanded by the Tarai-based political parties.

The writ petitioners argue that distribution of the voter identity cards without citizenship certificates will endanger nationality and increase the chance of influx of immigrants into the country.