Authority directed to issue passport with 10-yr validity to Karti

One-liner: The Madras HC has directed the Regional Passport Authority in Chennai to issue a passport with 10 years validity to Karti Chidambaram, the Congress MP from Sivaganga and son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram.

Need to know: Justice M Govindaraj issued the directive while allowing a writ petition from Karti, recently.

Re-issue of passport: The petition sought to quash the orders dated April 8, 2021, and Aug 24, 2021, of the RPA turning down his plea and consequently directing him to re-issue a passport with additional pages, valid for 10 years.

• Relying on Sec 6(2) (f) of Passports Act,1967, the RPA said that when a criminal case is pending, the notification will continue to apply and the authorities under the Act are empowered to shorten the validity of the passport to one year

What the counsel said; Petitioner's senior counsel P Wilson contended that the authority can't shorten the duration of the passport without following the mandates of Sections 7 and 10 of the Passport Act. 

No violation involved: Karti is a Member of the Parliament and he has not violated any condition imposed on him. The RPA has not produced any materials to show that he was compelled to take action against Karti, Wilson added.

Bottom line: Allowing the petition, the judge held that the RPA can't shorten the duration or validity of the passport without following the mandate of Sections 7 and 10 of the Act.