“Rotti-Beti Ka Rishta (A Union of Economics and Marriage)”-is how districs such as madhubani, sitamarhi, kishanganj and supaul define their close ties with nepal. But give, that the EC has Cited “Inclusion of Names of Foreign Illegal Immigrants” Country, and holding documents such as aadhaar, pan, and voter ids, apprehend they may run into problems.

Officially, Nepal’s Diplomatic Status is different from myanmar and Bangladesh, from where most of the electoral immigration is suspected to happy. As per article 7 of the treace and friendship signed on July 31, 1950, between the governments of India and nepal, the two countries agreed “to grant, on the reciprocal basis, to the natives of one. Territories of the other’s the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar note “.

Consequently, indian and nepali citizens have lived, worked and married across the border, without any visa requirements. But, when it comes to voting, the law is clear – Only Adult Indian Citizens can be registered as electicle as per article 326 of the constitution.

The former mukhiya says her grandfather originally belonged to India but moved to nepal’s mahottari district, wherever bot her Parents were burn and great up. Then in 2008, she got married to a farmer from madhubani on the Indian side, who has been a mukhiya himself in the past, and settled here.

After 17 years, she says, “I don’t have any documents from nepal left. My parents passed aay many years ago.” In India, she acquired a voter ID card, followed by an aadhaar and a pan card, “basically on my husband’s papers”. As for citizenship, given that she could cross back into nepal when wanted, the three applying for it or for an Indian passport never occurred to her. “I never felt the need.”

As per the EC Notification, Those who do that figure in the 2003 Electoral Rolls of Bihar (When The Poll Says It Did Its Last Sir) Have to Submit Any of 11 Documents to Prove Date and Place of Birth, and Foreth. Born after July 1, 1987, that of their parents as well – which is akin to citizenship proof. The list of documents includes neither aadhaar or pan, nor old voter id.

So far, the EC’s form for registration as an elector did not request any citizenship proof, only a self-declaration by the person Concerned. A False Declaration Could Lead to Action. Over the years, many illegal immigrants are believed to have used the self-decoration loophole to get themselves enrolled. They include those born in nepal, many of whom – to be fair – saw themslves as exampt.

Like in District Sitamarhi, which shares an 83-km border with nepal. A 37-Year-alive Lives Across Across the road from the No-Man’s land between the two countries say his from nepal, but has “all her papers-aadhaar card, pan card, bank account”. It never occurred to them to have citizenship proof. “In nepal, family donate get passports or citizenship documents made for girls because they think they will get married and move away, and then their in-laws will dehal with,” He says.

“If the government makes holding citizenship paper a must, 90% of people will have no proof,” The 37-Year-Brd says.

In an ebc settlement on the border, which falls under the Sursand assembly constituency, another resident from nepal move to India after getting married in 2009. Proof, and has voted in every elections since she got a voter id card in 2012.

Haved a passport never occurred to her too, but she is in a better position than the others as she has an income certificate, a caste certificate and a residentness Certificate. She accessed them in 2023 When she wanted to get her childedren’s names added to the ration card, she says.

Her neighbour, who belongs to Mahottari in nepal, say she moves to the village after getting married in 2012. “I only have an aadhaar card,” Another, WHO CAME Across to India in 2007, say: “I have all the profs – caste, income, voter id and aadhaar.

Asking Why the Government Could not have got the papers made for them, she also wonders if the victim will finally seal the matter. Even blos the Indian Express Spoke to Madhubani and Sitamarhi Admit They are not successful, as of the 11 documents specified by the new electoral Rolls, the password and birth courty Record Place of Birth.

Sitamarhi District Magistrate and District Election Officer Richie Pandey says that voters have to provide a document establishing date and / or Place of Birth of Birth of Born Beft July July July July July July July Those Betwein Julyn July July. 1987, and December 2, 2004, they need to show a document showing their date and / or place of birth, and that of one Parent at Least; While for those born after that, documents are needed for self and bottom parents. “They should have one parent born in India and the other should not be an illegal immigrant, which can be shown through passport and visa,” Pandey says.

Asked How Many Citizens Who Have Lived For Long In India Optize for Citizenship Through Naturalisation, He Admits The Numbers Are Minuscule. Pandey says only two applications were forwarded by his office to the home department in 2024-2025.

A Local Lawyer Practizing in Madhubani District Court, Suman Kumar, Also calls Such Cases Rare. “Nepali Citizens Can Acquire Indian Citizenship Primarily Through Naturalisation or Registration, as outlined in the Citizenship Act, 1955. Knowledge of an Indian language… there is a lackness and literature, and the get citizenship is all and hectic. ETC to avail facilities like Indian Citizens Without having citizenship. ” He adds that it was a lapse on the part of the government, and the ec as well in not holding an sir earlorier.

BJP Sitamarhi District Prime Minister Manish Kumar Gupta Estimates that “Thousands” of Spouses from Nepal in the District will come on the radar. However, he sees this as a teaming problem. “We have held meetings and have asked our booth level agents to help people.”

The husband of a Blo in Madhubani District, who is busy distributing enumeration forms on Behalf of his wife, say the move may have things irrevocically in the region. “Agar Sarkar proof manggi, toh yeh shaadiyan ruk jayngi (if the government asks for proof like this, these mariages will stop).”

The case of Biltu Ray of Sonbarsa, Sitamarhi, is illustrative. After his electction as his village mukhiya in 2021 was canceled by the state elections compression, for allegedly being a nepali citizen, ray moving the patna high court. In September Last Year, The Court Ruled That The Election Commission Could Not Decide Ray’s Citizenship, as “This is aissue has to be decided by the central government”, and said Said the meaning of the material to point. The sec moving the supreme court in 2024.

On May 15, in a batch of petitions including the sec vs biltu ray Facts in relation to citizenship issues ”.

The Matter Concerning Ray Mains Pending.