Passport authorities must process date of birth correction applications promptly per law and prior judgments.

JUDGMENT

The petitioner is the holder of an Indian passport.

According to the petitioner, his actual date of birth is 30.05.1969. However, the date of birth has been mistakenly shown in the passport as 06.05.1961. Accordingly, the petitioner submitted an application for renewal of passport with correction of date of birth. The petitioner states that the passport was issued to him when he was a minor. Pursuant to the application for renewal, Ext.P6 appointment letter was issued to the petitioner. The grievance of the petitioner is that, so far, his application for correction of date of birth is not processed. Accordingly, the writ petition is filed for the following relief:-

“i. Issue a writ of mandamus or writ of similar nature or order or direction commanding the respondents to correct the date of birth of petitioner as 30-05-1969 and to re issue the passport with correct date of birth.”

2. The learned DSGI, on instructions, submits that Ext.P6 is only an appointment letter and the petitioner has not submitted formal application for correction of date of birth in the passport.

3. This Writ Petition is disposed of with the following direction :-

The petitioner shall submit an application for correction of date of birth in the passport pursuant to Ext.P6 before the 2^nd respondent within a period of two weeks from today. Once such application is received, the 2^nd respondent shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, taking due note of Ext.P7 judgment of this Court, within a period of three weeks therefrom.