Even If NCR Is registered, Do Not Delay Issuance Or Renewal Of Passport: Allahabad High Court

Prayagraj, January 31 (TNA) The Allahabad High Court has given big relief in the passport cases pending due to criminal cases. The court has ordered the passport authority to immediately issue or renew the passports of the applicants against whom NCR is registered. It has been said that these people will not have to get permission from the concerned court to go abroad.

This order has been given by the division bench of Justice SD Singh and Justice Manjeev Shukla while disposing of dozens of petitions including that of Pawan Kumar Rajbhar and others. The court has said that the applicants against whom the investigation of FIR or trial is going on will have to get permission from the concerned court as soon as the information about the police report is received from the Regional Passport Office. Their passport will be issued or renewed within a week of getting permission.

All the applicants whose applications are pending have been given two months to get permission from the concerned court and submit it to the Regional Passport Office within two weeks so that their passports can be issued or renewed as soon as possible. All judicial officers have been instructed to decide the applications for permission to go abroad within a maximum of four weeks. If urgent, decide as soon as possible.

Many advocates including advocate Chandrakant Tripathi debated the petition. Additional Solicitor General (ASGI) Shashi Prakash Singh on behalf of the Government of India and Government Advocate AK Sand on behalf of the State Government assisted the court. The court had sought a status report on the petitions filed regarding delays in issuing passports or deciding renewal applications, which could not be provided.

The court said that if the passport authority uses judicial discretion, the applications can be disposed of in a time-bound manner. Due to not doing so, a large number of petitions are coming to the High Court. Despite instructions, the problem is not being resolved. Under the e-governance policy, if there is transparency and efficiency in the functioning, such applications can be decided in time.