HC seeks Centre’s reply on Tytler passport row

New Delhi, August 14

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre’s response on a plea by Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who has challenged an order to impound his passport for allegedly furnishing false details to the authority concerned.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru took on record the submission of Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya that Tytler was at liberty to apply afresh for a passport and his application would be considered uninfluenced by previous proceedings.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 6 next year. Tytler, in his plea, claimed that the passport officer had passed the impounding order for allegedly furnishing false details for renewal of his travel document, in a “most high-handed and arbitrary manner”.

The order was passed by the regional passport officer on March 28, which was challenged before the appellate authority. The latter dismissed the appeal, after which the Congress leader approached the High Court.

During the hearing, the court observed that Tytler was denied a passport after he admittedly gave an incorrect statement in the application form, but he had to be given the document at some point of time.

The HC had earlier imposed Rs 10,000 as costs on the leader and dismissed his plea against a show-cause notice issued by the passport authorities for allegedly giving false details. — PTI