Punjab & Haryana HC: Innocent Mistakes in Passport Application Cannot Lead to Revocation

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that an innocent mistake in disclosing the marital status or name of the spouse in the passport application cannot justify impounding or revoking the passport under the Passports Act, 1967.

The Court held that such unintentional mistakes do not amount to the offence of 'mischief' and therefore, cannot attract a penalty.

The decision came in light of a case where a woman, though divorced and later remarried, renewed her passport through an agent, who mentioned the name of the ex-spouse in the relevant column.

[Navpreet Kaur v Union of India]