RAFIQ KHOKHAR Vs. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) GRIEVANCE of the petitioner is that even though he submitted the application for obtaining passport on 22.11.2012, but till date his passport has not been issued by the Passport Office. In fact, it was an application for re -issue of the passport because the validity of the earlier passport issued to the petitioner in 1980 had expired. Learned counsel submitted that petitioner is an illiterate person and certain date was declared as date of birth by his parents in the aforesaid passport and it appears that the respondents have withheld the new passport of the petitioner on the basis of some difference in the date of birth then declared and now given in the new application form.

(2.) CONTENTION of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that petitioner has submitted the birth certificate duly issued by the Registrar of the Birth & Deaths, Municipal Council, Sikar dt. 19.8.2010 in which he has declared 10.04.1969, which would show that his first passport was issued when he was only 11 years old. Learned counsel submitted that in the earlier passport also, there is no difference as far as the year as well as month of birth is concerned, but there could be a difference with regard to only date of birth and this could have been possible because of the fact that not only petitioner but his parents are illiterate. It is submitted that petitioner is a labourer and earns his livelihood by going to gulf countries and if his passport is not issued in time, he would suffer grossly. Having regard to the facts aforestated, petitioner is directed to approach the Regional Passport Office, Jaipur who may look into the grievance of the petitioner and do the needful to issue passport to him or otherwise give reasons and decide his application by speaking order within one month from the date petitioner approaches him along with copy of this order.