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What is a Passport?
Passport is a travel document, usually issued by a country’s government to its citizens. It certifies the identity and nationality of its holder primarily for the purpose of international travel.
In India, the passport is issued by the Ministry of External Affair (MEA) to the citizens of India. It enables the bearer to travel internationally and is also a proof of Citizenship under the Passports Act, 1967.
Refusal of Passport
Section 6 of the Passports Act, 1967 provides the grounds on which the Passport Authority may refuse to issue a passport or travel document. Readers may also refer to the official text of the Passports Act, 1967.
https://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/PassportActEng.pdf
- The applicant is likely to engage in activities abroad that will pose a threat to sovereignty and integrity of India.
- The applicant may engage in activities which will adversely affect the internal security of India.
- The applicant’s presence could affect the friendly relations of the country with India.
- The Central Government is of the view that presence of such an applicant abroad is against public interest.
- In the five years preceding the date of his application, the applicant has been convicted by a court in India for an offence where he or she demonstrated lack of morality and was sentenced to at least two years of imprisonment.
- Criminal proceedings against the applicant are pending before a Court in India. In certain cases involving pending criminal proceedings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) may also affect international travel. Readers may find our guide on Look Out Circular for NRIs — How to Get It Revoked or Cancelled useful. https://nrilegalconsultants.in/look-out-circular/
- An arrest warrant or a warrant or summons for appearance has been issued by a court under any law in India, or a court order prohibiting the departure of the applicant from India has been made.
- The applicant was sent back to India from a foreign country and has not reimbursed the expenditure for the same.
In general quite a few applications for an Indian Passport are rejected. This is not because a passport comes with a special eligibility criterion, it’s mainly a result of some common errors and special situations. However it has been seen that in certain cases the passport application of the applicant/person is not processed by the embassy or competent authority within a specific time duration but is instead kept under process for a prolonged period of time without giving any fair/just explanation for the same. The most common reply given by the embassies for not processing the application of the applicant is that they have not got the necessary clearances from the competent authority and thus the application of the applicant is under process and is pending due to the requirement of necessary clearance from India.
It is important to distinguish between refusal of a passport application and impounding of a passport. While refusal relates to the non-issuance of a passport, impounding concerns action taken against an already issued passport under the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967. You may also read our detailed guide on Impounding of Passport.
https://nrilegalconsultants.in/impounding-of-passport/
Appeal against Refusal of Passport
The Appellate Authority under the Passports Act, 1967 is the Central Passport Organization, a subordinate office of the Ministry of External Affairs, headed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer. The Ministry of External Affairs also provides information regarding passport services, application procedures, and related guidance through the official Passport Seva Portal.
https://www.passportindia.gov.in/psp/
- An appeal can be made against the order of the Passport Authority or any other body to which the Passport body is subordinate to by an aggrieved person. This can be made under Section 11 of the Passport Act, 1967. An appeal against an order made by the Central Government is not permitted.
- An appeal made after the expiry of the prescribed period is not admissible unless the appellant satisfies the appellate authority that he had sufficient reason for not preferring an appeal within that period.
- In order to file an appeal under this section a petition must be made in writing and is accompanied by a a copy of the statement of the reasons for the order appealed against where such copy has been furnished to the appellant.
- The appellate authority has to follow the prescribed procedure. No appeal is disposed of until the appellant is given a reasonable opportunity of presenting his or her case.
- An order of the appellate authority confirming, modifying or reversing the order appealed against is final.
In case an appeal has been filed under Section 11 of the Passport Act against the appellate authority against grounds mentioned under Section 6 of the Passport Act and has been dismissed, a writ petition can be filed in the High Court regarding the same under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India.
| Situation | Available Legal Remedy | Relevant Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Passport application refused | File an appeal before the Appellate Authority | Section 11, Passports Act, 1967 |
| Appeal dismissed | Consider filing a Writ Petition before the appropriate High Court, where legally maintainable | Articles 226 & 227, Constitution of India |
| Unreasonable delay in passport processing | Make a representation to the Passport Authority and, where appropriate, seek judicial remedy | Facts of each case |
| Delay despite appellate order | A Writ Petition may be maintainable for appropriate directions | Dharam Singh v. Passport Seva Kendra, Jalandhar |
Writ Petition against refusal of Passport
The Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Manjit Kaur Dhaliwal vs Union Of India & Anr (2019) held that an appeal under Section 11 of the Passport Act, 1967 must be filed before invoking the Jurisdiction of the High Court through a writ petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India.
Manjit Kaur Dhaliwal v. Union of India & Anr., CWP-26236-2016 (Punjab & Haryana High Court, decided on 14 May 2019).
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/44370274/
Dharam Singh v. Passport Seva Kendra, Jalandhar (Punjab & Haryana High Court, decided on 15 July 2019).
https://indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=Dharam%20Singh%20Passport%20Seva%20Kendra
Delay in grant of Passport by Appellate Authority
It was held by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Dharam Singh vs Passport Seva Kendra Jalandhar (15 July, 2019) that if the Passport Appellate Authority has approved the grant of the Passport and delay is caused by the Passport Office, the petitioner can approach the Court by filing a writ petition. The Court can direct the Passport Office to take action within a limited time period.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a passport be refused under the Passports Act, 1967?
Yes. The Passport Authority may refuse to issue a passport on the grounds specified under Section 6 of the Passports Act, 1967, including certain criminal proceedings, national security concerns, or other circumstances prescribed by law.
2. Can I appeal against the refusal of my passport?
Yes. An aggrieved person may file an appeal under Section 11 of the Passports Act, 1967 before the designated Appellate Authority within the prescribed period.
3. Can I file a writ petition if my passport application is refused?
A writ petition may be maintainable before the appropriate High Court under Articles 226 or 227 of the Constitution of India, depending on the facts of the case. Ordinarily, the statutory remedy of appeal should be exhausted first.
4. What can I do if my passport application is pending for a long time?
If there is an unreasonable delay without a satisfactory explanation, you may first make a representation to the Passport Authority. Depending on the circumstances, appropriate legal remedies, including a writ petition, may also be available.
5. Does a pending criminal case always result in refusal of a passport?
Not necessarily. Whether a passport may be refused depends on the facts of the case and the applicable provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, along with any relevant court orders.
CONCLUSION
It has been seen in a number of cases that sometimes the NRI’s face extreme difficulties in getting their passport renewed due to the non clearance being given by the competent authority and thus the applications for renewal of the passport are kept pending for months/years and as result undue harassment is faced by the NRI’s. Thus it is imperative to follow the proper legal procedure/channel to get your passport renewed within a specific time frame. If your passport renewal application is pending before an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad, you may also read our detailed guide on What to Do if Your Passport Is Not Being Renewed by the Embassy.
https://nrilegalconsultants.in/what-to-do-if-your-passport-is-not-being-renewed-by-the-embassy/