By TIN24 Editor Amit Alhat
Mumbai, October 17, 2025
The Bombay High Court has ruled that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, criticizing passport authorities for bureaucratic delays. The court directed expedited renewal of a senior citizen’s passport without requiring an Indian address.
The case involved 70-year-old Abdul Razzaq Abdul Gani Khatu, a US resident, whose 2022-expired passport renewal was stalled since May 2024 due to demands for an Indian address. Justices G S Kulkarni and F P Goyal stated the Passports Act does not mandate this for non-residents, calling it undue harassment.
The court ordered renewal within two weeks using his US address and imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on authorities, payable to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. This aligns with prior rulings rejecting invalid grounds for passport denials.
Experts praise the decision for easing processes for the Indian diaspora.
Author: The India News 24
TIN24 (The India News 24) The India News 24 (TIN24) is a Mumbai-based news Digital Media focusing on breaking news, local and regional issues in India, with content primarily in Marathi. It was established with an X (Twitter) presence since July 2022. Owner & News Editor: Amit Alhat Education: BA in Mass Communication Journalism (Graduate) Experience: 12 years in journalism Platforms: - Website: https://theindianews24.in - X (Twitter): https://x.com/the_indianews24 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theindianews247 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theindianews_24
