(1) This Writ Petition raises a question of considerable importance. The question can be given two alternative formulations. Do the government of India have an absolute and unfettered discretion to grant or refuse a passport to a citizen of India no right to get a passport from the government of India.

(2) It is common ground that the petitioner is a citizen of India. He says that he is partner of a firm in Bombay which carries onto business of Bankers, Exporters and Importers and also of a firm in Dubai, in the Persian Gulf, which carries on the business of Indent Agents and Importers. I am told that Dubai in part of British protectorate. The petitioner claims, and this is not disputed that passports were granted to him during the period from October 1952 and October 1962 to enable him to make trips to Dubai and certain ports in the Persian Gult. The Last passport issued in favor of the petitioner express on 28th October 1962. On 10th January 1963 the petitioner applied to the Regional passport officer, who is the second respondents to this petitioner for the grant of a new passport for a period of three years. That application was rejected by the second respondents on 24th Ma