The petitioner in this application is an advocate of this Court. He is also an elected member of the Madras Legislative Council. On or about 23rd October, 1952, he applied for the issue of a passport to him for travelling to the countries mentioned in the application which included the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and other countries in Europe. On 12th January, 1953, he received a communication from the Deputy Secretary to Government, Home Department, enclosing a passport endorsed for the United Kingdom, Egypt, Iran. Iraq, and Afghanistan. On page 7 of his passport, there was a note as follows;

“This passport should not be endorsed for additional countries without prior reference to the office of issue.”

On receipt of this, the petitioner wrote to the Secretary to Government, Home Department, stating that he had applied for a passport to travel to all the countries in Europe including the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, as he wanted to consult Ear Specialists in those countries. He sent back the passport for further endorsement. He also protested against the note on page 7 of the passport. On 2nd March, 1953, he received back his passport with a further end