Vikram Kumar Singh v. Union of India Thru. Secy. Deptt. of External Affairs New Delhi and 4 Others

Court No. - 27 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 4086 of 2024 Applicant :- Vikram Kumar Singh Opposite Party :- Union Of India Thru. Secy. Deptt. Of External Affairs New Delhi And 4 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Mahendra Pratap Singh,Abhishek Dwivedi,Krishna Kant Yadav Counsel for Opposite Party :- A.S.G.I.,G.A. Hon'ble Shamim Ahmed,J.

¶1Heard Sri Mahenera Pratap Singh, learned counsel for the applicant as well as Sri Surya Bhan Pandey, learned Sr. Advocate and Deputy Solicitor General of India assisted by Sri Varun Pandey, learned counsel for the Union of India and Sri Ashok Kumar Srivastava, learned A.G.A.-I for the State and perused the record.

¶2The instant application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed for quashing of the impugned order dated 15.04.2024 passed by the court of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow in Criminal Case No. 64378 of 2022: State Vs. Vikram Kumar Singh, arising out of Case Crime No. 555/2021, under Sections 323, 504 and 506 I.P.C. Police Station Gomti Nagar, District Lucknow, whereby applicant filed by the applicant seeking No Objection Certificate regarding the Passport of the applicant has been rejected.

¶3Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant was appointed in the Merchant Navy on the post of Master in the company known as MOL Synergy Marine Marshal Island Inc as per agreement dated 23.10.2023 entered between the applicant and the complany.

¶4Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the passport issued issued in the year 2014 to the applicant earlier was expiring soon, the applicant applied for urgent Passport in the office of Opposite Party No.5-Passport Granting Officer, Passport Office, Lucknow and on 10.10.2023 the applicant was issued Passport bearing No. Y7598958.

¶5Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that the applicant received a Show Cause Notice dated 06.02.2024 whereby he was intimated that a criminal case is pending against him and an adverse Police Verification Report was received in the matter of Passport and the applicant was required to surrender his passport within a period of 15 days or to submit judgment/NOC from the Hon'ble Court and was required to submit suitable explanation as to why passport issued to the applicant may not be impounded and proceedings under various Section of the Passport Act, 1967.

¶6Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that after receiving the show cause notice, the applicant sent his reply dated

13.02.2024 to the opposite party No.5 though e-mail stating therein that he was not aware of any court case and had not received any notice from any court with a request that he may be given time up to 30.04.2024 to explain his position or obtain NOC from the Hon'ble Court.

¶7Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that when the applicant came to Lucknow and contact his counsel, he came to know that an F.I.R. dated 17.05.2022 was lodged by one Smt. Mridula Singh W/o Sri Prashant Singh against Sri Santanu Singh and his family member in the Police Station Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, which was registered as Case Crime No. 555/2022, under Sections 323/504/506 I.P.C., Police Station Gomti Nagar, Lucknow and the police has filed the charge-sheet against some person including the applicant and cognizance was taken by the court below on the basis of charge-sheet filed by the police in the case Criminal Case No. 64378/2022 has been registered against the applicant and others.

¶8Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that the F.I.R. was lodged against Sri Shantanu Singh and his family members, neither any statement was ever taken by the police from the applicant nor any process i.e. notice under Section 41-A of Cr.P.C. or summons, warrants or information was ever received by the applicant.

¶9Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that the applicant applied for bail in Criminal Case No. 64378/2022 before the trial Court and the applicant was released on bail. In support of his argument learned counsel for the applicant has filed the questionnaire showing that he is on bail in Criminal Case No. 64378/2022.

¶10Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that an application was filed by the applicant before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, where the criminal case is pending against the applicant for grant of No Objection Certificate with regard to the passport, which was disposed of by means of order dated 15.04.2024 observing therein that the court has not imposed any conditions while disposing of the bail application of the applicant/accused. In such a situation, this Court has no jurisdiction for allowing the application of the applicant.

¶11Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in Case Crime No. 555/2022, under Sections 323/504/506 I.P.C., Police Station Gomti Nagar, Lucknow and in that case, the applicant is already on bail. It is submitted that, though the criminal case pending against the present applicant is petty in nature, but now a days such criminal cases are also take a long time to be decided finally and till then it will not be proper either to withhold no objection to the applicant. Learned counsel for the applicant further submitted that in case applicant, is acquitted in future, then loss, which the applicant may suffer by not going abroad for the purpose of her professional work can not be compensated in any manner. Such refusal also infringes the applicant's constitutional right available to her under Article 19 & 21 of the Constitution of India.

¶12In support of her argument, learned counsel for the applicant has relied upon the notification of Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi dated 25.08.1993, which is being quoted hereunder:- "G.S.R. 570(E).--In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of Section 22 of the Passports Act 1967 (15 of 1967) and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of External Affairs No. G.S.R. 298(E), dated the 14th April, 1976, the Central Government, being of the opinion that it is necessary in public interest to do so, hereby exempts citizens of India against whom proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by them are pending before a criminal court in India and who produce orders from the court concerned permitting them to depart from India, from the operation of the provisions of Clause

(f) of sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the said Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(a) the passport to be issued to every such citizen shall be issued -

(i) for the period specified in order of the court referred to above, if the court specified a period for which the passport has to be issued; or

(ii) if no period either for the issue of the passport for the travel abroad is specified in such order, the passport shall be issued for a period of one year;

(iii) if such order gives permission to travel abroad for a period less than one year, but does not specify the period of validity of the passport, the passport shall be issued for one year; or

(iv) if such order gives permission to travel abroad for a period exceeding one year, and does not specify the validity of the passport, then the passport shall be issued for the period of travel abroad specified in the order;

(b) any passport issued in terms of (a)(ii) and (a)

(iii) above can be further renewed fr one year at a time, provided the applicant has not travelled abroad for the period sanctioned by the court; and provided further that, in the meantime, the order of the court is not cancelled or modified.

(c) any passport issued in terms of (a)(i) above can be further renewed only on the basis f a fresh court order specifying a further period of validity of the passport or specifying a period for travel abroad;

(d) the said citizen shall give an undertaking in writing to the passport-issuing authority that he shall, if required by the court concerned, appear before it at any time during the continuance in force of the passport so issued."

¶13Thus, learned counsel for the applicant submits that the impugned order dated 15.04.2024 is totally illegal, perverse and arbitrary as the same is passed without application of judicial mind and also without considering the notification of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, therefore, the same is liable to be quashed.

¶14On the other hand, learned counsel for the Union of India has placed a notification of the Government of India dated 25.08.1993 (which has already been quoted above) and an Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 (which is being quoted hereunder) issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi. He has also placed an order passed by co-ordinate Bench of this Court dated 02.02.2024 passed in Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. No.839 of 2024 and submits that there is no restriction to the learned trial court to direct for grant of permission for renewal of passport. He further submits that as per aforesaid notification and order passed by the co-ordinate Bench of this Court, the impugned order dated 15.04.2024 passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, on its face appears to be passed without application of judicial mind and without considering the aforesaid notification. Thus, the impugned order is liable to be quashed and authorities may be directed to consider the case for No Objection Certificate of his passport. The Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 is being quoted hereunder: *** Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi:- No. VI/401/1/5/2019 Government of India Ministry of External Affairs PSP Division Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg New Delhi, the ltith October 2019 OFFICE

MEMORANDUM

Subject: Issue of passports to applicants against whom criminal cases are pending before a court of law in India. Reference is invited to Notification No. GSR 570(E) dated 25.8.1993 regarding issuance of passports to applicants who have criminal proceedings pending against them and whose applications would attract the provisions of clause (f) of sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Passports Act, 1967.

¶2GSR 570(E) dated 25.8.1993 is reproduced below for reference: "G.S.R. 570(E).--In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of Section 22 of the Passports Act 1967 (15 of 1967) and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of External Affairs No. G.S.R. 298(E), dated the 14th April, 1976, the Central Government, being of the opinion that it is necessary in public interest to do so, hereby exempts citizens of India against whom proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by them are pending before a criminal court in India and who produce orders from the court concerned permitting them to depart from India, from the operation of the provisions of Clause (f) of sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the said Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(a) the passport to be issued to every such citizen shall be issued -

(i) for the period specified in order of the court referred to above, if the court specified a period for which the passport has to be issued; or

(ii) if no period either for the issue of the passport for the travel abroad is specified in such order, the passport shall be issued for a period of one year;

(iii) if such order gives permission to travel abroad for a period less than one year, but does not specify the period of validity of the passport, the passport shall be issued for one year; or

(iv) if such order gives permission to travel abroad for a period exceeding one year, and does not specify the validity of the passport, then the passport shall be issued for the period of travel abroad specified in the order;

(b) any passport issued in terms of (a)

(ii) and (a)(iii) above can be further renewed fr one year at a time, provided the applicant has not travelled abroad for the period sanctioned by the court; and provided further that, in the meantime, the order of the court is not cancelled or modified.

(c) any passport issued in terms of (a)(i) above can be further renewed only on the basis f a fresh court order specifying a further period of validity of the passport or specifying a period for travel abroad;

(d) the said citizen shall give an undertaking in writing to the passport-issuing authority that he shall, if required by the court concerned, appear before it at any time during the continuance in force of the passport so issued."

¶3It may be noted that applicants may be refused passports only on grounds mentioned under Section 6(2) of the Passports Act, 1967. Section 6(2)(f) of the Act states that the passport authority shall refuse to issue a passport or travel document to an applicant on the ground that proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the applicant arc pending before a criminal court in India. GSR 570(E) dated 25.8.1993 was introduced to give relief to such applicants against whom criminal proceedings are pending before any Court of law in India but who may need to travel abroad for some urgent business. With an undertaking under GSR 570(E) and an order from the Court, an applicant could be issued a short validity passport of one year validity for the period specified by the Court.

¶4It has been noticed that there are an increasing number of references being received regarding passport applications attracting Section 6(2)(f). It has also been brought to Ministry's notice that there are a number of complex issues involved while processing such applications. During the proceedings in a recent court case, the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in W.P. (CRL) No. 2844/2018 /CRL.M.A. 48674/2018 has directed that guidelines be issued by the Ministry reiterating the procedure for processing of such applications and emphasizing that such applications need to be processed with due care and diligence.

¶5In view of the above, the following instructions may be adopted while processing the passport applications in respect of those applicants who may have criminal proceedings pending before a criminal court in India:

(i) The provisions of GSR 570 (E) may be strictly applied in all case. GSR 570 (E) is a statutory notification and hence, forms part of the Rules. It is to be noted that as per Section 5 (2) of the Passports Act, 1967, the passport authority shall be order in writing take a decision whether to issue or refuse a passport, after making such inquiry , if any, as it may consider necessary. Moreover, Section 7 of the Passports Act, provides that a passport or travel document may be issued for a shorter period than the prescribed period if the passport authority, for reasons to be communicated in writing to the applicant, considers in any case that the passport or travel document should be issued for a shorter period. Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980 only states that an ordinary passport shall be in force for a period of 10 years which implies that an ordinary passport cannot be issued beyond a period of 10 years.

(ii) Whenever an applicant is submitting a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from a Court of law in India, the applicant should be advised that undertaking as per GSR 570(E) should be complete in all respects and should mention all the pending criminal cases against the applicant. The undertaking will have a not clearly stating that if any false or incomplete information is submitted by an applicant, then his passport application is liable to be rejected.

(iii) Extant instructions clearly lay down that such applications should be processed on pre-Police Verification (PV) mode. "Pre-PV" would be mandatory in all cases of applications submitted with GSR 570(E) to ensure that the undertaking submitted by the applicant is properly matched with the criminal cases mentioned in the Police Verification Report (PVR). Hence, such applications should not be accepted under Tatkaal nor such applications be moved to "post-PV" mode or "No-PV" mode without proper justification and approval to be recorded in writing.

(iv) If an undertaking is incomplete or misleading and the applicant is found to have suppressed details of other criminal cases against the applicant, a Show Cause Notice should be issued to the applicant and action initiated against that applicant as per provisions of Section 12 of the Passports Act, 1967. If information that an applicant has obtained a passport by making a false submission or by suppressing material facts comes to light after the passport has been issued, the passport may be impounded or revoked as per provision of Section 10 (3) (b) of the Passports Act, 1967 after following the due procedure.

(v) In case where the first police verification (PV) is 'Adverse', secondary police verification may be generated. While a secondary PV is generated, it should be accompanied by a detailed letter seeking clarification regarding the pending criminal cases against the applicant and the status of these cases. Apart from generating secondary PVR, the passport officers may, if considered necessary, call for discreet enquiry through the police authorities by sending the court order submitted by the applicant or even seek verification from other government agencies/departments, as the case may be.

(vi) In case where the secondary Police Verification is also 'Adverse', it may be examined whether the details brought out in the police report match the undertaking submitted by the applicant. It may be noted that mere filing of FIRs and cases under investigation do not come under the purview of Section 6(2)(f) and that criminal proceedings would only be considered pending against an applicant if a case has been registered before any Court of law and the court has taken cognizance of the same.

(vii) If the details given in the police report and the undertaking submitted by the applicant are matching, then the 'No Objection Certificate' issued by a Court of law submitted by the applicant would take precedence over any 'Adverse' report submitted by the police. In such cases, the 'Adverse' report may be overruled with the written approval of the Passport Officer.

(viii) If the details given in the PVR and the undertaking submitted by the applicant are at variance, then a notice may be issued to the applicant calling for clarification and advising the applicant to submit details of all pending criminal cases as well as to submit a revised No Objection Certificate

(NOC).

(ix) If it is brought to the notice of the authority that an applicant has criminal proceedings arrayed against applicant before several courts of law, then the applicant may be advised to get NOC from all the concerned court (s). Normally, the Court Order would make a mention of the cases pending against the applicant as well as the prayer made by the applicant. This may be examined along with the undertaking submitted by the applicant and complaints or other court orders, if any, that have been received against the applicant.

(x) It may noted that GSR 570(E) only exempts and applicant from the operation of Section 6 (2)(f) and none of the other sub-sections of Section 6(2) of the Passports Act, 1967.

(xi) A revised Undertaking under GSR 570(E) is attached at Annexure 'A'.

(xii) Passport Officers may issue an internal SOP along the above lines so that there is no confusion in handling of applications that would attract provisions of section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967.

¶6The above instructions may be noted for strict compliance with immediate effect. Annexure 'A' UNDERTAKING (to be submitted on plain paper as per provisions of GSR-570(E) dated 25.08.1993) I am applying/have applied for passport with the following details:-

(a) Name :..........................................

(b) Date of Birth :.........................................

(c)Father's Name :.........................................

(d)Mother's Name :.........................................

(e) Present Address :..........................................

(f) File No./ARN No. :................................ Date:...............

¶2The Criminal case(s) with following details is/are pending against me: (if more than one case is pending, details of all cases may be provided. Additional sheet giving complete information may be attached)

(a) Case No. :............................................

(b) Name of Court :............................................

(c) Details of Investigating Agency (Please provide details of Police station Investigating Officer, etc.) :.............................................

(d)Last date of hearing :..............................................

(e)Next date of hearing :.............................................

¶3I hereby undertake that I shall, if required by the Court concerned, appear before it at any time during the continuance in force of the passport so issued.

¶4I am aware that it is an offence under the Passports Act, 1967 to furnish any false information or to suppress any material information with a view to obtaining a passport or any other travel document.

¶5The above information given by me in this undertaking and enclosures is true and I am solely responsible for its accuracy. (Signature of the Passport applicant) Name............................................. Mobile No.................................... Date:................ Place:............... ***

¶15After considering the arguments as advanced by learned counsel for the parties as well as after perusal of record, this Court finds that Under Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the citizens of the country are entitled for passport. In Maneka Gandhi Vs. Union of India 1978 (1) SCC 248, the Apex Court has held that having passport is a fundamental right of the citizen of India and a citizen can not be deprived of such fundamental right and the Hon'ble Supreme Court in paragraph Nos. 214 and 215 was pleased to observe as under:

¶214In India, at any rate, we are all certainly governed by our Constitution. The fact that the affected petitioner may not, as a result of a particular order, be able to do something intended to be done by her abroad cannot possibly make the governmental action in India either ineffective or immune from judicial scrutiny or from an attack made on the ground of a violation of a fundamental right which inheres in an Indian citizen. The consequences or effects upon the petitioner's possible actions or future activities in other countries may be a factor which may be weighed, where relevant, with other relevant facts in a particular case in judging the merits of the restriction imposed. It will be relevant insofar as it can be shown to have some connection with public or national interests when determining the merits of an order passed. It may show how she has become a "person aggrieved" with a cause of action, by a particular order involving her personal freedom. But, such considerations cannot curtail or impair the scope or operation of fundamental rights of citizens as protections against unjustifiable actions of their own Government. Nor can they, by their own force, protect legally unjustifiable actions of the Government of our country against attacks in our own courts.

¶215In order to apply the tests contained in Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution, we have to consider the objects for which the exercise of inherent rights recognised by Article 21 of the Constitution are restricted as well as the procedure by which these restrictions are sought to be imposed. Both substantive and procedural laws and actions taken under them will have to pass tests imposed by Articles 14 and 19 whenever facts justifying the invocation of either of these articles may be disclosed. For example, an international singer or dancer may well be able to complain of an `unjustifiable restriction on professional activity by a denial of a passport. In such a case, violations of both Articles 21 and 19(1)(g) may both be put forward making it necessary for the authorities concerned to justify the restriction imposed, by showing satisfaction of tests of validity contemplated by each of these two articles."

¶16Thus, this Court after considering the aforesaid judgment of Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of Maneka Gandhi (Supra) this court is of the view that right to travel abroad is a part of the personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India and in addition thereto a careful reading of provisions of the Passport Act and the Notification dated

25.08.1993 alongwith the Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 in the light of it's legislative backgrounds as mentioned above, it is clear that passport or travel document of a person, who is facing trial can be refused by the authority concerned during pendency of his criminal case, but there is no statutory bar for giving no objection by the court concerned. No hard and fast straight jacket formula can be laid down regarding issuance of permission or giving no objection by the court concerned for issuance of passport. It is always discretion of the court concerned and depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case, act and conduct of the accused as well as nature of alleged offence committed by him/her and stage of trial, etc. Some time on account of enmity or ill will one party enmesh the other party in a frivolous criminal case to settle his personal score, therefore, in the interest of justice, it is necessary to consider all aspects of the matter and surrounding circumstances while granting or refusing the no objection for renewal or reissue of passport or travel documents by the court concerned or by the authorities concerned and the trial in the above case is not likely to conclude very soon. These were relevant factors to be considered by the learned Trial Court while passing the impugned order. The learned trial court had completely ignored the Notification issued by Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi dated 25.08.1993 as well as Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi (referred above) while passing the impugned order for grant of No Objection Certificate for renewal/re-issue of passport, thus, the impugned order is not sustainable in the eyes of law, therefore, the same is liable to be set aside/reversed.

¶17In view of above, in the light of the notification dated

25.08.1993 and the Office Memorandum dated 10.10.2019 as well as the judgment passed by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of Maneka Gandhi (Supra) and considering the larger mandate of the Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, the impugned order dated 15.04.2024 passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow is hereby set aside and re-veresed.

¶18Accordingly, the instant application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is allowed with following directions:

(i) The applicant shall retain his Passport No. Y7598958 issued on 10.10.2023 with him till its expiry period.

(ii) The respondent No.5-Regional Passport Officer, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow is restrained from cancelling or retaining the Passport No. Y7598958 issued on 10.10.2023 to the applicant, in pursuance to the notice dated 06.02.2024 (Annexure No.4).

(iii) The applicant shall inform and take permission from the trial court concerned before going abroad and he shall appear before the trial Court on the date fixed as directed by the trial Court and he shall be bound by the terms and conditions imposed by the trial court, if any.

(iv) The trial Court, if grants permission to the applicant to go abroad, may impose condition in accordance with law, during the pendency of the case pending before it.

(v) The applicant is also directed to submit the copy of the court's order, if any, condition imposed by the trial court regarding permission to go abroad, shall be submitted before the respondent No.5-Regional Passport Officer, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.

(v) Let a copy of this order be given to Sri Surya Bhan Pandey, learned Sr. Advocate and Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for Union of India and Sri Ashok Kumar Srivastava, learned A.G.A.-I for the State for information and communication to the authorities concerned. Order Date :-03.05.2024 Arvind (Shamim Ahmed,J.) High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench