Passport fee hike: Delhi HC directs Centre to decide representation in three months

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government to consider and decide a representation challenging the revised passport fee structure introduced under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, preferably within three months. The court disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) without examining the validity of the amended rules on merits.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devender Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to examine the representation in accordance with law.

The PIL, filed by Pravasi Legal Cell, challenged the constitutional validity of the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which came into effect on July 1. The petitioner argued that the revised fee structure is arbitrary, unreasonable and places a disproportionate burden on millions of Indian citizens, particularly Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), migrant workers and economically weaker sections.


The petitioner sought to quash the amended rules, contending that the enhanced passport fees violate Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Alternatively, it requested the court to direct the Centre to consider its representation dated June 27, 2026, seeking a review and rationalisation of the revised fee structure.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Anto Robert argued that passports are essential statutory documents for employment, education and international travel, and that the fee increase places an undue financial burden on citizens, especially overseas Indian workers who also have to bear outsourcing agency charges and courier costs.

The petition also alleged that the government introduced the revised fee structure without disclosing any cost analysis, financial assessment or objective material to justify the increase. It added that representations submitted by the Pravasi Legal Cell and its Kerala chapter had not received any response.

After hearing the submissions, the High Court directed the MEA to decide the pending representation expeditiously, preferably within three months, and disposed of the PIL.

with inputs from ANI