Right to Travel Abroad a Basic Human Right: Punjab & Haryana High Court Allows Convicted Cop to Visit Europe

The Punjab and Haryana High Court permitted former Punjab Police DSP Raka Ghirra, convicted in a 2011 bribery case, to travel to Spain, Switzerland, and Czechia for one month.

Justice Aman Chaudhary observed that the right to travel abroad is a "basic human right," citing the Supreme Court’s landmark Maneka Gandhi ruling.

Ghirra, sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment in 2024, was granted permission despite CBI opposition, provided she fulfills stringent conditions.

These include furnishing bail bonds and securities worth ₹40 lakh, submitting a detailed itinerary, and surrendering her passport within three days of her return on May 10.

[Raka Ghirra v. CBI]