2023 Supreme(Online)(KAR) 16006
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NC: 2023:KHC:40948
WP No. 19120 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
WRIT PETITION NO. 19120 OF 2023 (GM-PASS)
BETWEEN:
ISA IFAMUDDIN,
AGED ABOUT 06 YEARS,
S/O. LUBNA MOHAMMAD SHAMEEM,
AGED 32 YEARS,
SHEHNAZ MANSION, THOKUR,
HALEANGADI, MANGALORE - 574 146.
REPRESENTED BY HIS MOTHER THE
NATURAL GUARDIAN AND NEXT FRIEND
RESIDING AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI. HALEEMA AMEEN, ADVOCATE)
AND:
UNION OF INDIA,
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER,
BANGALORE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE,
8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD,
KORAMANGALA, BANGALORE - 560 095.
…RESPONDENT
(BY SRI. A.C. CHETHAN, ADVOCATE)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INIDA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF
MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE ORDER ON THE
APPLICATION OF THE PETITIONER FOR RENEWED PASSPORT
AS AGAINST ANNEXURE-A SHOWN IN THE WEBSITE OF OFFICE
OF
THE
RESPONDENT
IN
RESPECT
OF
FILE
NO.
BN4075365911323,
ON
THE
PASSPORT
RENEWAL
APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER, THROUGH HIS
MOTHER AS NATURAL GUARDIAN AND ETC.,
Digitally signed by
PADMAVATHI B K
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
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NC: 2023:KHC:40948
WP No. 19120 of 2023
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING
IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following
prayer.
"WHEREFORE, it is prayed that this Hon'ble pleased to:
Court be
a) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate
order, on the application of the petitioner for renewed
passport as against ANNEXURE A shown the website of
office of the Respondent directing passport authority to
issue passport to the petitioner in respect of File
No.BN4075365911323, on the passport application
filed by the petitioner, through his mother as natural
guardian,
b) Issue such other relief/s as is deemed fit to grant in
favour of the petitioner by this Hon'ble Court in view of
the facts and circumstances of the cases, in the interest
of justice."
2.
Heard Smt. Haleema Ameen, learned counsel
appearing for the petitioner and Sri. A.C. Chethan, learned
counsel appearing for the respondent.
3.
The aforesaid prayer is sought seeking re-issuance
of the passport of minor child, whose custody is with the
mother. The passport is denied to be re-issued in favour of the
minor son through the petitioner on the score that the
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husband-father has not signed the documents that are
necessary for re-issuance of the passport.
4.
The petitioner is the wife of one Sri.Ifamuddin, who
were before the Family Court in O.S.No.27/2021 and pursuant
to the proceedings instituted by them, they have parted ways
by rendering a Khulanama and the custody of the child is with
the mother. The mother then files an application for re-
issuance of the passport before the respondent, who appears to
have declined it on the aforesaid reasons.
5.
The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
the issue in the lis stands answered by the judgment rendered
by
this
Court
in
the
W.P.No.22378/2022
disposed
on
15.12.2022 and in some more identical circumstances where
passport was denied to be re-issued on the score that the
husband had not signed the necessary documents for re-
issuance of passport. This Court has held as follows:
"8.
The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute.
The issue in the case at hand is, ‘whether the 2nd
respondent was right in denying issuance/re-
issuance of passport to the minor’.
9.
To consider the issue, it is germane to notice
the statutory frame work with regard to issuance of
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passport to a minor. Section 24 of the Passports Act,
1967 (‘the Act’ for short) empowers the Central
Government to make Rules for carrying out the purposes
of the Act. In terms of the said power, the Passports
Rules, 1980 (‘the Rules’ for short) are made. The Rules
have certain division amongst them with regard to
issuance of passport. Certain schedules are appended to
the Rules with regard to necessary documents to be
submitted, by an applicant seeking a passport under
various schemes. Section IV of Schedule III of the Rules,
deals with documents to be appended for issuance of
fresh passports. Clause 3 of Section IV(A) of the Rules
deals with application for a minor’s passport and reads as
follows:
“(3) When applying for a minor's passport attach:
(a)
A
Declaration
from
the
parents/single
parent/applicant parent/legal guardians, as the
case may be, affirming the particulars furnished in
the application about the minor child as per
‘Annexure-H (for all minor applicants). Annexure
“C” (Single parents who are separated but not
formally divorced/Single parent of the child born
out of wedlock), Annexure “G” (when passport is
being applied for by single parent or legal
guardian), Annexure “I” (when a minor between
15-18 years of age applies for a full validity 10 year
passport or in case either parents who do not hold
valid Indian passport while applying passport for
their minor child), as the case may be. Single
Parents applying for the passport for their child
should fill up Annexure “C” and or Annexure “G”, as
the case may be.
(b)
Attested photocopy of passport, if any, of
both parents, if applicable.
(c)
Original passports of parents should be
presented for verification of particulars.
(d)
If