The Allahabad High Court has directed police authorities across the state to complete passport verification processes within four weeks of receiving applications, emphasizing that unnecessary delays in such verifications violate the fundamental right to travel abroad. The Court observed that bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of accountability have turned the verification stage into a major obstacle for applicants, leading to widespread frustration and frequent litigation.
The bench noted that the Court has been receiving numerous petitions from applicants complaining about prolonged delays in the issuance or renewal of passports, often before the passport office even issues a notice. It found that, although the Ministry of External Affairs has laid down specific timelines for processing passport applications, there is no corresponding framework governing how long police verification should take. This lack of regulation, the Court said, has resulted in arbitrary and avoidable delays that hinder citizens from exercising their right to travel, which is recognized as part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
In its order, the High Court issued several important directions to ensure procedural efficiency and transparency. First, it stated that applicants who receive a notice from the passport office should promptly respond and comply with the requirements instead of immediately filing writ petitions before the High Court. Second, the Court clarified that in cases where a criminal proceeding is pending against an applicant, it is the applicant’s duty to obtain and furnish a no-objection certificate or the required permission from the competent court to facilitate the passport process. Third, and most importantly, the Court mandated that all police verifications must be completed within a maximum period of four weeks from the date the passport office forwards the application to the concerned police department. Any delay beyond this time frame must be justified through a written explanation citing exceptional and unavoidable circumstances.
The Court stressed that the right to travel abroad is not merely a privilege but a fundamental right linked to personal liberty and dignity. Administrative inefficiency or red tape cannot be permitted to infringe upon such rights. It observed that the State has a duty to ensure that its agencies function in a manner that respects citizens’ rights and facilitates rather than obstructs legitimate administrative processes.
By imposing the four-week timeline, the Allahabad High Court aimed to bring discipline, predictability, and accountability to the passport verification system. The Court’s ruling serves as a reminder that governance must operate in harmony with constitutional principles, and that administrative delays—particularly those caused by negligence or inaction—cannot be allowed to curtail a citizen’s fundamental freedoms. The order reinforces that timely action and efficient coordination between departments are essential to uphold both the rule of law and the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
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