- (1.) Heard Sri Nipun Singh, learned Counsel for the petitioner, Ms. Aradhna Chauhan, learned Central Govt. Advocate who has filed appearance on behalf of Union of India and learned Standing Counsel for State Authorities.
(2.) This petition has been filed seeking relief to quash the impugned order dated 28.5.2019 passed by respondent no.3 by which, the passport of the petitioner has been ordered to be impounded imposing penalty.
(3.) Briefly stating the facts giving rise to this petition are that initially, a passport was issued to the petitioner on 30.4.2008 bearing Passport No. G 7983341 having validity up to 29.4.2018; that before its expiry, the petitioner applied on line for its renewal on 14.1.2018 and she was given appointment for completing requisite formalities by the Regional Passport Office, Ghaziabad on 31.1.2018 bearing File No. GZ04C4010003218 which the petitioner complied with; but when, the petitioner did not receive her passport, she again took appointment on 20.3.2018 and personally met the official at Regional Passport Office, Ghaziabad, upon which, on 21.3.2018, the petitioner received her passport on 25.3.2018 bearing No. R.9685546; that on 26.3.2019, police verification on renewal application of the petitioner was done by police authorities; that after getting police verification report, the Regional Passport Officer, Ghaziabad issued a show cause notice dated 13.4.2018 seeking clarification from the petitioner about pendency of a criminal case, relevant extract whereof, is quoted below; " COURT CASE IS PENDING CRIME NUMBER.475/2012 188/171 J IPC BY REPORT You may recall that a passport bearing passport number R9685546 dated 21/03/2018 was dispatched to you by this office on the basis of your application dated 01/02/2018. You are therefore, called upon to provide a suitable explanation and submit a fresh application with correct details. Please note that you are required to furnish a proper explanation regarding the circumstances under which you had suppressed the material information in your passport application and obtained the above said passport. Also state why action should not be taken to impound the passport number R9685546 dated 21/03/2018, of the Passport Act, 1967 and Section 12(1)(b) of the Passport Act, 1967 should not be initiated against you. Please quote the reference number mentioned in the top block of this letter for further correspondence.";