No Need To Show 'Pressing Need' For Passport: HC

Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has reaffirmed that the right to hold a passport is an important constitutional right, underling that citizens are not required to demonstrate any “pressing need” for foreign travel to obtain a passport or a no-objection certificate (NOC).

- M Ahmad

A bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar observed that the passport cannot be withheld merely because an applicant has not produced documents showing the necessity of travelling abroad.

“Since a citizen has a right to hold a passport, as such, even without his need for traveling abroad, he is entitled to hold a passport,” the court said.