Married Woman Can Apply for the Passport Without Husband’s Consent/Sign : Madras High Court

The Madras High Court held that a woman does not require her husband’s signature or consent to obtain a passport.

The case arose after a passport office refused to process a woman’s application without her husband’s signature. She claimed this violated her fundamental rights.

The Court agreed, observing that a woman’s identity is not tied to her marital status and outdated requirements cannot override constitutional rights.

The court directed the passport office to process her application and issue the passport within four weeks, subject to the fulfilment of other necessary formalities. (J Revathy v. GOI & Ors.)