VISHAMBHAR SARAN Vs. BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since the arguments advanced by the parties in all the writ petitions are identical, the matters are taken up together for hearing and disposal.

(2.) The petitioners have challenged a Lookout Circular (LoC) dtd. 29/02/2020 issued by the Immigration Authorities at the behest of the Punjab National Bank (respondent no.2) in the present writ petition(s).

(3.) Under the heading "REASON FOR OPENING OF LOC" in Clause IV, it was stated that the LoC was being issued as an exceptional case as it appeared to the concerned authority (MD and CEO of respondent no.2), on the inputs received, that departure of the petitioner would be detrimental to the economic interest of India and larger public interest. The inputs, which were the alleged basis of such opinion, were not disclosed in the LoC itself. Learned counsel for the petitioners argues that merely parroting the provisions of the statute or the Office Memorandum (OM) dtd. 27/10/2010, as amended on 05/12/2017, does not amount to giving reasons. As such, it is contended that the LoC, being in contravention of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India, ought to be set aside inter alia on the ground that the same was devoid of reason.