( 1 ) RULE. Shri J. M. Malkan, learned Asst. Solicitor General of India with Shri m. A. Shaikh, learned Additional Standing counsel for the Central Government waive service of rule on behalf of the respective 5 respondents in respective petition. 1. With the consent of the learned advocates for the respective parties, all these matters are taken up for final hearing today.

( 2 ) AS the common question of law and facts arise in this group of petitions, they are being disposed of by this common judgment and order.

( 3 ) THE petitioners in respective petition are either already having passport issued by the respondent authority and/or they have applied for fresh passport. The respective petitioners have prayed for in the respective petition to direct the respondent passport authority to make necessary correction/s and/or the change/s in the passport with respect to either date of birth and/or place of birth as in the certificate issued by the competent authority under the provisions of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 as well as in the School Leaving Certificate issued by the School Authority there is discrepancy in the date of birth.

( 4 ) IT is the common contention and th