The chief general manager of state run PEC limited was denied the renewal of his past as he was charged by the CBI for offenses under the IPC section 420 as well as section 13 of the corruption act after the CBI had filed an FIR against him and his PSU under the ministry of Commerce and Industry for cheating of over 530 crores.
When the advocate of the client applied for an NOC for Passport renewal, the PEC limited refused it citing the office memorandum of Aug 28, 2018, that the Ministry of Public grievance and Pension, Personnel, Department of Personnel and Training, stating that in case of any pending disciplinary proceedings, the vigilance clearance as well as the NOC certificate required by a public servant for issuing or renewing passport can be withheld ordinarily.
The Advocate of the person in concern had challenged two office memorandums issued by PEC limited that declined his client’s passport renewal request. The report that the PEC as well as the passport office submitted for denial was under the Section (6) (2) (f) of the 1967 Passports Act. It states that the passport office can deny the renewal of passport to the applicant who is under-going court proceedings before a criminal court of India. The PEC limited counsel further contented on the order of the special judge which was conditional and did permit passport issuance only if it is allowed under the relevant passport rules.
The court noted that the PEC did not bring forth any other other rule other than Section (6)(2)(f) and 10 of Act that would prevent the applicant from getting his passport renewed and that the criminal court in concern did approve his passport renewal.
Justice Bakhru further added “The reliance on Section 10 of the Act is ex facie misplaced, since it pertains only to impounding and revocation of passports and travel documents”. The court directed that if the petitioner submits an application for passport renewal, it would be processed for a period of two years but there is this condition where the petition submits an undertaking to respondent no 5 that he would appear before the court whenever required during the issued passports continuance.
*Sourced from the Internet
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