ORDER

1. The substantive prayers made in the application are as follows:

"(a) Set aside and/or quash the notification/ office memorandum dated 13.07.2021 issued by the Union of India through the Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, Delhi;

(b) Set aside the communication dated 18.8.2021 issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice;

(c) Stay the operation of the notification/ office memorandum dated 13.07.2021 issued by the Union of India through the Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, Delhi during the pendency of the present application. "

2. We have heard Mr Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General of India.

3. The concern raised by the applicant i.e., the petitioner, who appears in person, is about the aspect embedded in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Office Memorandum (OM) dated 13.07.2021 [ hereafter referred to as the "O.M."] requiring the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to obtain political clearance for private visits abroad. Since the O.M. is not too expansive, the entire O.M. is extracted hereafter for the sake of convenience:

"Subject: Policy related to the issuance of Visa Support Notes Verbale by consular, Passport and Visa Division, Ministry of External Affair