Passport renewal can't be denied only based on negative police report: HC

In an important judgment, the Rajasthan High Court has ruled that the renewal of a passport cannot be denied solely on the basis of an adverse police verification report without examining the applicant's antecedents. The court directed authorities to issue a renewed passport to a 33-year-old applicant, Savitri Sharma, within eight weeks.

The case arose after the passport authorities refused Sharma’s renewal application. The police report claimed her nationality was doubtful, but the authorities did not produce evidence to support the claim. Sharma’s previous passport had expired on May 16, 2022.

Court’s Observations

Delivering the verdict on November 14, Justice Anoop Dhand emphasized that a negative police report alone is insufficient to deny a passport. "An adverse passport verification report does not disentitle a citizen from legal right to have a passport. It is for passport authorities to take into consideration facts and antecedents of the person who has applied for issuance of passport," the court stated. The order was uploaded online on Tuesday.

Petitioner's Representation

Advocate Abhinav Bhandari, representing Sharma, stated, "Sharma is an Indian national. Her first passport lapsed on May 16, 2022. When she filed an application for renewal, it was turned down."

This judgment underscores the importance of due diligence by passport authorities and reaffirms the legal rights of Indian citizens in passport-related matters. It sets a precedent that adverse police reports require further validation before they can form the basis of denial.