2023:DHC:2094

$~6

*

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

Date of Decision: 21^st March, 2023

+

W.P.(C) 2654/2023

MS. MANJU RANI HARA

..... Petitioner

Through:

Ms. Nishi Sangtani, Advocate. (M:

7073621688)

versus

REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER & ANR.

..... Respondents

Through:

Mr. Rakesh Kumar, CGSC with Mr.

Sunil

&

Mr.

Abhishek

Gupta,

Advocates for UOI (M-9811549455)

CORAM:

JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH

Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

2. The Petitioner-Ms. Manju Rani Hara is an unwed mother who had

applied for the passport of her 8 months old minor-daughter in the Delhi

Passport Office. The appointment for verification of the Petitioner’s

daughter’s passport application was fixed and accordingly, on 23rd

September, 2022, the Petitioner reached the passport office with her minor

daughter. At the Passport office, the Petitioner was asked to provide details

of the minor’s biological father. The Petitioner provided explanation as to

why she is unable to give the name of the biological father to the passport

office. She also met the Deputy Passport Officer. and explained her

circumstances. It is stated that the Deputy Passport Officer suggested that

the Petitioner should approach Respondent No. 1- Regional Passport Officer

for further assistance. The Petitioner booked an appointment for 7^th October

2022, to meet with Respondent No. 1-Regional Passport Officer(‘RPO’).

3. On 7^th October 2022, the Petitioner was then requested by the RPO to

Digitally Signed

By:RAHUL

Signing Date:24.03.2023

10:53:32

Signature Not Verified

2023:DHC:2094

give the reasons for non- mentioning the name of the biological father in

writing on a blank paper, which the Petitioner is stated to have complied

with. However, despite several weeks having passed, post the said event of

submission of reasons, the passport was not issued. Even the username and

the password which was allotted to the Petitioner had expired. Accordingly,

the Petitioner has filed the present petition seeking the issuance of the

passport without insisting upon mentioning the biological father's name.

4. The prayer in this writ petition reads as under:-

the present case.”

5. On 2^nd March, 2023, after hearing the parties, the following order was

passed by this Court:-

person, on the next date of hearing.”

6. Mr. Rakesh Kumar, ld. Counsel today submits that on 1st March,

2023, when instructions were sought prior to the last hearing, an email was

Digitally Signed

By:RAHUL

Signing Date:24.03.2023

10:53:32

Signature Not Verified

2023:DHC:2094

received by his office that the application has already been processed

without mentioning the name of the father. However, since his attention was

not drawn to the said email, he could not mention the same to the Court on

the said date.

7. Today, ld. Counsel Ms. Nishi has submitted that the Passport

Authorities have thereafter conducted the verification and the passport has

been received by her on 16th March, 2023.

8. Under these circumstances, the prayer in the writ petition stands

satisfied.

9. In the present case, the passport having been issued, the relief sought

no longer survives. The present petition with all pending applications, if any,

is disposed of in these terms.

PRATHIBA M. SINGH

JUDGE

MARCH 21, 2023

Digitally Signed

By:RAHUL

Signing Date:24.03.2023

10:53:32

Signature Not Verified