Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has annulled the provision of making the national identity card mandatory for banks.The Supreme Court has annulled the provision of mandatory national identity card for updating the customer identification details (KYC) or changing the mobile number.

The court has struck down this provision and ordered the service to be provided to customers who do not have national identity card and national identity card.

A writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court arguing that customers without national identity cards were deprived of operating their bank accounts after the banks implemented the provision.

Hearing the same writ petition, a joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Meghraj Pokharel ordered not to deprive customers of banking services even if they do not have a national identity card. The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus order in the name of all the agencies concerned including the nation and to provide banking services on the basis of alternative documents including citizenship.

According to the court order, banking will have to provide the service to the customers who do not have a national identity card, banks will have to provide the service only after testing the alternative document in two phases.