A Constitutional Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki comprising Justices Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Khatiwada, Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Sinha had issued the verdict.
On December 14, advocates Yubaraj Poudel and Rabiraj Basaula had registered a writ petition at the Supreme Court arguing that Lamichhane was not a Nepali citizen and his status as a lawmaker should be annulled. With the court's decision, Lamichhane had lost his parliamentary and ministerial positions. Journalist-turned-politician Lamichhane was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister on January 26. Following the apex court’s verdict, Lamichhane tendered his resignation the same day to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.