Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Prashant Bhushan’s plea challenging provision in passport law


PTI, May 9, 2024, 12:36 PM IST

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned till after summer vacations a petition challenging the constitutional validity of a provision of passport law and a notification providing for issuance of passport for only a year to an accused on receipt of a ‘no objection certificate’ from a court.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhyan deferred the matter after it was informed that senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, was not available.

The summer vacations of the top court will commence on May 20 and the court will resume its sitting on July 8.

The apex court had earlier issued notices to the Centre and Regional Passport Office at Ghaziabad on the plea filed by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who gets passport for a period of only one year on account of some FIRs lodged against him for allegedly taking part in protests and ‘dharna’.

Bhushan has filed an appeal in the top court against the Delhi High Court’s January 2016 verdict which had rejected his plea against the provision of the Passport Act.

“Petitioner had challenged the constitutional validity of section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967 which states that passport shall not be issued/reissued to a person accused of committing any offence,” the plea has said.

“The blanket prohibition in section 6(2)(f) has been partially lifted vide a notification issued in 1993 which states that passport may be issued/reissued if the applicant produces an NOC from the court concerned and if no period is mentioned in the NOC, then the passport shall be issued/reissued for only one year.”

“The petitioner had also challenged the constitutional validity of this notification,” it said.

Bhushan’s counsel had told the top court that the provision concerned does not make distinction between serious and not so serious offences and puts equal restriction on accused in getting new or renewed passport and it is violative of the right to equality.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Incentive fund for SC/ST students of national institutes increased, says Minister Mahadevappa

Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport gets 4,000 sqft hydroponic green wall

Waqf properties row: JPC Chairman receives over 500 petitions from aggrieved farmers in Karnataka

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Kinnigoli: Truck carrying red stone collides with Auto-Rickshaw; driver injured

UP govt to install 150,000 toilets for Maha Kumbh, set up paying guest facilities

Kavoor Police arrest two notorious cattle thieves

Related Articles More

Congress slams BJP for objecting to colour of Constitution copy carried by Rahul Gandhi

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Felling of trees: What is being done to restore Delhi Ridge? SC asks DDA

UP govt to install 150,000 toilets for Maha Kumbh, set up paying guest facilities

Sexual harassment case cannot be closed on basis of compromise between parties: SC

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Geethartha Chinthane – 87: Kunti as a model of courage for women

Karkala: Sr Donalda Pais, headmistress of Arunodaya Special School, passes away

Incentive fund for SC/ST students of national institutes increased, says Minister Mahadevappa

K’taka govt prohibits staff from smoking, consuming tobacco products inside offices

Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport gets 4,000 sqft hydroponic green wall

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.