IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.31902 of 2025

28.11.2025 Between:

Fouzia Parveen …Petitioner AND Union of India & another …Respondents

ORDER:

The petitioner challenges the action of respondent No.2 in issuing the impugned letter dated 25.09.2025, rejecting her request for correction of her date of birth in Passport No.M5103841 from 02.03.1988 to 02.03.1996, on the ground that such request cannot be entertained after five years from the date of issuance of the initial passport. The petitioner seeks a direction to the respondents to consider her request without reference to the delay and in the light of earlier orders passed by this Court.

2. Heard Sri Karam Chendu Komireddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. NVR. Rajyalakshmi, learned counsel representing Sri N. Bhujanga Rao, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, for the respondents.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner’s correct date of birth is 02.03.1996, as reflected in her SSC Marks Memo and other educational records, and that the entry of 02.03.1988 in her initial passport was incorrect. He submits that while applying for re-issuance of passport in August 2025, the petitioner sought for correction of her date of birth, but the same was rejected solely on the ground of delay. He relies upon the Office Memorandum dated 22.09.2016, which permits consideration of genuine cases for change of date of birth even beyond five years, and also relies on the orders of this Court in W.P.No.13636 of 2022 and W.P.No.11323 of 2023, wherein similar requests for correction of date of birth, based on educational records, were directed to be considered despite delay. He further submits that the petitioner’s case is identical and is entitled to similar treatment.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents submits that while issuing the initial passport in 2015, the petitioner had submitted an affidavit mentioning her date of birth as 02.03.1988, and therefore no clerical or departmental mistake occurred. She submits that as per the extant Passport Rules and the guidelines, a request for correction of date of birth cannot be accepted if made after five years from the date of issuance of the initial passport. She relies on the order of this Court in W.P.No.2005 of 2025, wherein the writ petition was dismissed on the ground that the request for correction of date of birth was made several decades after issuance of the initial passport. She, therefore, support the rejection order dated 25.09.2025.

5. The Office Memorandum dated 22.09.2016 specifically provides that the Passport Issuing Authority (PIA) shall consider the explanation of each applicant seeking change of date of birth to assess the genuineness of the claim, even where more than five years have elapsed from issuance of the passport. It further directs the PIA not to reject such requests routinely, and to consider the same if a genuine explanation and authentic supporting documents are furnished.

6. In the present case, the petitioner has produced her SSC Marks Memo reflecting her date of birth as 02.03.1996, and seeks only a direction for consideration of her request in accordance with the said guidelines. This Court finds that the petitioner’s case falls within the ambit of the additional guidelines issued by the Office Memorandum dated 22.09.2016 and requires reconsideration by respondent No.2.

7. In view of the above, the Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to consider the petitioner’s request for correction of her date of birth in Passport No.M5103841, strictly in accordance with the additional guidelines contained in Office Memorandum dated 22.09.2016, and pass appropriate speaking orders within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, and communicate the same to the petitioner. No costs.

Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand clos