V.K. Jhanji, J. - In this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioners are seeking a writ in the nature of Certiorari quashing order dated 13.10.1999 (Annexure P-13) vide which the Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer has dismissed the appeal preferred by the petitioners under Section 11(1) of the Passports Act, 1967, praying for restoration of passport facilities and travel documents to them.

2. Petitioner No. 1, Sukhdev Singh, is a retired Kanungo, aged about 67 years. Petitioner No. 2, Sukhminder Kaur, is aged 60 years and is real sister of petitioner No. 1. Petitioner No. 3, Pinderpal kaur is wife of Malwinder Singh who is son of petitioner No. 1. All three of them applied to the Regional Passport Officer, Chandigarh, for issuance of passports. Petitioner No. 1 received letter dated 2.8.1996 from the Regional Passport Officer stating that he was sympathiser to terrorists during the days of militancy and since the local police has reported against him, he was asked to clarify his stand in this regard. Petitioner No. 1 submitted his reply through his counsel that he is a retired Kanungo from the Revenue Department and none of his family