NRNA 12th General Convention Uncertain After Writ Filed at Patan High Court

The 12th General Convention of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), scheduled to begin on Falgun 30, may not take place as planned after a writ petition was filed at the Patan High Court seeking to halt the convention and its online voting process. The court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The case was filed on behalf of NRNA UK President Prem Gaha Magar, claiming that thousands of NRNA UK members are being deprived of voting rights and that the election process violates the association’s constitution. The petition cites the UK’s strict data protection laws, arguing that the personal data of around 22,000 UK members cannot legally be transferred to NRNA’s Membership Registration System (MRS) or any third-party server.

The petition also raises concerns over online voting and voter privacy, including the requirement to submit email and selfie photos for verification. It further argues that excluding UK representatives, who make up about 20 percent of total voters would make the convention illegitimate.

The petition names the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NRNA ICC, the NRNA Secretariat, the Election Committee, and co-chairs Mahesh Kumar Shrestha and Dr. Badri KC as defendants. The court’s decision on Wednesday will determine whether the convention scheduled for Saturday will proceed.