V BASKARAN Vs. CHIEF ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE NO 26 HADDOWS ROAD SHASTRI BHAWAN CHENNAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition has been filed, praying for a direction to the respondents to return the petitioner's passport bearing No.M-155984 so as to enable the petitioner to travel abroad.

(2.) THE facts are thus:

(3.) THE further argument of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner is that within six months from the date of seizure, the respondents failed to initiate the proceedings and, therefore, the passport has necessarily to be returned to the petitioner. In support of his contention, the learned counsel cites a decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Marie Andre Leclerc v. State (Delhi Admn.), AIR 1983 SUPREME COURT 1092 = 1983 Cri.L.J.1445, wherein, a direction for return of passport was issued, on humanitarian ground. THE operative portion of the said ruling goes thus: