#Passport Law

A mother, as a single parent, may obtain her child's passport without the father's consent under Passport Rules 1980 §§4(A)(3)(a),4(3), as held by Gujarat HC. It directed the Regional Passport Authority to issue the passport within eight weeks.

Even with ECIR proceedings, the Calcutta High Court allowed a ten-year passport renewal where the applicant satisfied the Section 22 exemption, curbing the blanket one-year limit of Notification GSR 570(E). The ruling aids individuals under investigation seeking longer-valid passports.

Allahabad HC rules that mere pendency of criminal proceedings, even at the investigation stage, cannot justify passport rejection. The Regional Passport Office must grant applicants an 8-week window to obtain court permission, failing which the passport must be issued expeditiously. This directive reinforces procedural fairness in administrative decisions affecting fundamental rights.

The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the 10.10.2019 Office Memorandum governing passport renewals, overturning the Allahabad High Court’s finding that it conflicted with statutory law. This ruling affirms that administrative guidelines, when aligned with government policy and not contrary to statute, remain enforceable - directly impacting thousands of applicants facing delayed renewals nationwide.

Allahabad HC rules that mere pendency of corruption charges-without trial progress or substantive evidence-cannot justify denial of a passport No Objection Certificate. The judgment reinforces due process protections, ensuring administrative decisions are not based solely on unproven allegations.

Allahabad HC holds that convictions under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, do not constitute a disqualification for passport issuance, as the statute's 'fresh start' principle and Article 21's right to travel override administrative refusals based on juvenile records. The ruling mandates passport authorities to disregard such convictions when assessing eligibility.

Allahabad HC rules that a juvenile conviction under the JJ Act 2000 carries no disqualification for passport issuance, as refusal based on a stigmatic past violates Article 21 and the principle of fresh start. The judgment mandates administrative authorities to disregard juvenile records when assessing passport eligibility, reinforcing constitutional protections for rehabilitation and mobility.

Telangana High Court ruled that passport date of birth corrections must be sought within five years of issuance, even for minors, as per Passport Rules. The Court dismissed the plea, noting that a fresh application would be the appropriate remedy for the petitioner, a minor whose date of birth was incorrectly recorded.

Telangana High Court rules that rejecting passport date-of-birth corrections solely based on a five-year lapse without assessing document genuineness violates constitutional rights. The judgment mandates individualized evaluation under the 2016 Office Memorandum, impacting thousands seeking identity corrections.

Rajasthan High Court holds that custody of minor entitles parent to apply for passport without non-custodial parent's signature, affirming child's right to travel documents.

Kerala High Court clarifies police obligation to issue passport loss certificates under Section 58 of Kerala Police Act, ensuring timely re-issuance of passports.