Exclusive HOLI Discounts!
Get Courses and Combos at Upto 50% OFF!
Upgrad
LCI Learning

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on LinkedIn

Share on Email

Share More

Biswo Bhusan Mishra   16 August 2018

my passport got impounded

My divorce case is running in Ranchi court & I am paying 40000 interim maintenance to my wife. I am working out of India from march 2018 & suddenly I got to know that my passport is impounded under


Learning

 6 Replies

kirti kabra   16 August 2018

Neither police nor courts have the authority to impound passports of accused involved in criminal cases as the power to do so is conferred exclusively upon Regional Passport Officers under the Passports Act 1967 
Section 10(3) of The Passport Act, 1967 mentions the conditions that may lead to impounding of passports. The said provision of law is being reproduced herein below for easy reference:

(3) The passport authority may impound or cause to be impounded or revoke a passport or travel document,-

(a) if the passport authority is satisfied that the holder of the passport or travel document is in wrongful possession thereof;

(b) if the passport or travel document was obtained by the suppression of material information or on the basis of wrong information provided by the holder of the passport or travel document or any other person on his behalf; [Provided that if the holder of such passport obtains another passport the passport authority shall also impound or cause to be impounded or revoke such other passport

(c) if the passport authority deems it necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public;

(d) if the holder of the passport or travel document has, at any time after the issue of the passport or travel document, been convicted by a court in India for any offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than two years;

(e) if proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the holder of the passport or travel document are pending before a criminal court in India.

(f) if any of the conditions of the passport or travel document has been contravened;

(g) if the holder of the passport or travel document has failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (1) requiring him to deliver up the same;

(h) if it is brought to the notice of the passport authority that a warrant or summons for the appearance, or a warrant for the arrest, of the holder of the passport or travel document has been issued by a court under any law for the time being in force or if an order prohibiting the departure from India of the holder of the passport or other travel document has been made by any such court and the passport authority is satisfied that a warrant or summons has been so issued or an order has been so made."

You can file an RTI to seek certain information about who has impunded your passport and take further action accordingly.

kirti kabra   16 August 2018

Neither police nor courts have the authority to impound passports of accused involved in criminal cases as the power to do so is conferred exclusively upon Regional Passport Officers under the Passports Act 1967 
Section 10(3) of The Passport Act, 1967 mentions the conditions that may lead to impounding of passports. The said provision of law is being reproduced herein below for easy reference:

(3) The passport authority may impound or cause to be impounded or revoke a passport or travel document,-

(a) if the passport authority is satisfied that the holder of the passport or travel document is in wrongful possession thereof;

(b) if the passport or travel document was obtained by the suppression of material information or on the basis of wrong information provided by the holder of the passport or travel document or any other person on his behalf; [Provided that if the holder of such passport obtains another passport the passport authority shall also impound or cause to be impounded or revoke such other passport

(c) if the passport authority deems it necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public;

(d) if the holder of the passport or travel document has, at any time after the issue of the passport or travel document, been convicted by a court in India for any offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than two years;

(e) if proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the holder of the passport or travel document are pending before a criminal court in India.

(f) if any of the conditions of the passport or travel document has been contravened;

(g) if the holder of the passport or travel document has failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (1) requiring him to deliver up the same;

(h) if it is brought to the notice of the passport authority that a warrant or summons for the appearance, or a warrant for the arrest, of the holder of the passport or travel document has been issued by a court under any law for the time being in force or if an order prohibiting the departure from India of the holder of the passport or other travel document has been made by any such court and the passport authority is satisfied that a warrant or summons has been so issued or an order has been so made."

You can file an RTI to seek certain information about who has impunded your passport and take further action accordingly.

1 Like

Biswo Bhusan Mishra   16 August 2018

Dear Madam/Sir,
My wife approched Ranchi RPO to impound my passport and it was done by them under section 10(3) b, c & e of passport act. I also have got a order from court which states that " no coercive step shall remain in force against petitioner". So my question is what should I do now to revoke the impound status. My divorce case lawyer don't have the knowledge of passport case. I am helpless & just got to know about LCI & approching. kindly help me out.

Rama chary Rachakonda (Secunderabad/Highcourt practice watsapp no.9989324294 )     16 August 2018

such citizens would not be able to return to India as they would not be able to pass through immigration with a passport that is impounded. 

 

Aks   18 August 2018

Excellent information by Kirti Kabra.  I am surprised that Passport can be impouded by Police in India without Court order.

But, its India..I hear Police CAN do anything there as many Police are  corrupt.

pankaj verma   18 August 2018

9816374011

Leave a reply

Your are not logged in . Please login to post replies

Click here to Login / Register