Minor's right to hold passport can't be taken away due to dispute between parents

The Bombay High Court ruled that a minor’s right to a passport cannot be denied due to parental disputes. Under Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to travel abroad is a facet of personal liberty.

A Pune Regional Passport Office decision to deny a 17-year-old girl’s passport, citing her father’s refusal to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC), was overturned.

The court emphasized that the Passports Act must address contemporary needs fairly and justly.

The court directed authorities to issue the passport within two weeks, recognizing the girl’s right to participate in an academic study tour in Japan.