Kerala HC fines passport officer for denying passport to the daughter of a divorced woman

The Kerala High Court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on an Assistant Passport Officer for denying a passport to the daughter of a divorced woman, demanding a letter of approval from her husband and a court order for issuance of the passport.

Ernakulam: The Kerala High Court has rapped the passport authorities for compelling single parents, who are divorced or separated, to resort to litigation for re-issuance of the travel document of their children, by saying that the officials concerned should be "pragmatic and reasonable" in their approach.

The court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on an Assistant Passport Officer for his "high-handedness" in denying a passport to the daughter of a divorced woman, demanding a letter of approval from her husband and a court order for issuance of the passport. Coming down heavily on the decision of the Passport officer, High Court said the officer should take a practical and justifiable decision in this regard.

When the divorced woman approached the Ernakulam passport office to renew the passport of her daughter, the authorities demanded a letter of approval from the father and also asked the woman to bring a court order in this regard. Following this, the woman approached the High Court against the decision of the passport officer.

The court found out the demands of the officer highly impractical, taking into account that the divorce certificate mentioned that complete responsibility of the child is bestowed upon the mother. Justice Amit Rawal then slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 to the Assistant Passport Officer. The passport office then told the Court that the application would be processed and the passport would be delivered to the applicant within a week.

Justice Rawal, however, observed that the step was taken by them "knowing full well that the court would express concern with regard to the spate of litigations and may come down heavily on the action of the respondents". Observing that the woman had to shell out litigation expenses for redressal of her grievance, the court imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Assistant Passport Officer.

The court also directed that the order "be circulated to all passport officers who have been raising such types of objections compelling the affected parties to approach this court for no rhyme and reason."

(With agency inputs)