MARTHE RANJANI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed to issue a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents herein to accept the Passport Application of the petitioner without insisting for production of a birth certificate from the Municipal Authority and direct the third respondent herein to issue the Passport to the petitioner based on S.S.L.C. Certificate and the Affidavit of the Vice President of SKGA.

(2.) HEARD Mr.G.R.Swaminathan, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.S.R.Neelakantan, learned Central Government Standing Counsel who takes notice on behalf of the respondents.

(3.) THE petitioner is aged about 22 years and qualified in M.Tech. She was an abandoned child and was taken to care and given shelter by Sri Kanyakumari Gurukula Ashram and she is now a nubile young woman and wants to pursue her higher education. In her attempt to file an application for issuance of Passport, she is faced with piquant situation whereby the application for Passport is not considered for the sole reason that she does not have a Birth Certificate issued by Municipal authorities.