Judgment

CHINNAPPA REDDY, J.:- The passport of Smt. Charanjit Kaur wife of Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan was impounded by the Regional Passport Officer, Delhi by an order dated August 18, 1984. The reasons for the order were not furnished to her "in view of the grave nature of her activities and serious implications in terms of sovereignty and integrity of India and the security of India" in terms of S. 10(5) of the Passports Act, 1967. The reasons are, however, to be found in the note made by the Regional Passport Officer on the same day. Paragraphs 1 to 3 of the note are as follows :

"Ref. Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi letter No. V.I/405/l/102/84 dated 18-8-1984 relating to the activities of Smt. Charanjit Kaur wife of Shri Jagjit Singh Chohan. Smt. Chohan is reported to have links with Sikh extremists and may engage in activities detrimental to the security of India. She is also planning to leave India shortly.

2. Reported activities detrimental to the security of India, attract the provision of S. 10(3)(c) of the Passports Act, 1967.

3. Due to the seriousness of the case and the likelihood of the subject trying to leave the country, in public interest, it is not considered nec