Thu Jan 09 09:14:55 UTC 2025: ## Bombay High Court Orders Passport Issuance for Teen Amidst Parental Divorce Dispute
**Mumbai, India –** The Bombay High Court has ruled that a minor’s right to obtain a passport and travel abroad cannot be denied solely due to a parental divorce dispute. In a landmark decision delivered on Wednesday, the court directed the Pune Regional Passport Office (RPO) to issue a passport within two weeks to a 17-year-old girl whose application was blocked by her father’s objection.
The girl’s parents are currently embroiled in divorce proceedings. The RPO, citing the father’s refusal, initially denied the application in November 2024. However, the High Court deemed this action unacceptable, stating that the girl’s fundamental right to travel, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, could not be infringed upon simply due to the parents’ conflict.
The court emphasized that the girl, a high-achieving student selected for a study tour to Japan, should not face such repercussions. They criticized the RPO’s “mechanical approach,” urging a more nuanced consideration of such cases, especially in light of the changing global landscape where international travel is increasingly commonplace.
The judges highlighted that the father had not obtained any court order preventing the application and provided no legitimate reason for the passport denial beyond his disagreement with his wife. The court upheld the mother’s declaration submitted to the RPO, clarifying its relevance in cases involving parental disputes.
The ruling underscores the importance of balancing parental rights with a minor’s fundamental rights, particularly in the context of international travel. The High Court’s decision sets a precedent for future cases, emphasizing the need for a more considered and less bureaucratic approach from passport authorities in such sensitive situations.
First Piper 