IKHLAQ MOHAMED Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners have moved this Court for a direction to the respondents to issue them the passports.

(2.) THE petitioners, who are Muslims, applied for passports on 8th Jan., 1981 to the Passport Officer, Chandigarh. The applications were complete in all respects. They were also supported by verification certificates issued by Miss Shyama Sharma, M.L.A., Nahan, District Sirmur. It may be noticed, that the petitioners are also residents of Nahan, District Sirmur. However, they did not hear anything from the Passport Officer. In Aug 1982, that is, after waiting for about 19 months, they started writing to the Passport Officer reminding him of their passport applications. Nothing moved the Passport Officer. He did not even care to acknowledge their letters. Ultimately, they were forced to knock at the door of this Court.

(3.) TODAY , when the matter was called, it was found that the respondents have not cared to file any return. The Rule nisi has to be made absolute on this short ground alone. Mr. Sharma has placed before us the records of the passport office with relation to the passport applications of these petitioners. To begin with, he started asking for one month's time and then he cut it down to two weeks. This time was asked for to enable the Passport Officer to take a decision in the, matter.