Court allows Kejriwal's plea seeking NOC for passport renewal
A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed the plea filed by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had moved the court seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) for the renewal of his passport.
Mr. Kejriwal's passport expired in 2018, and he wanted to get it renewed for 10 years.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh, on May 29, had issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the excise policy case, seeking their replies.
Responding to the notice, the CBI opposed Mr. Kejriwal's request, stating that the norms followed in different courts of the CBI regarding such matters are that renewal permission is granted for five years. The ED, in its oral submissions, also made the similar point.
The counsel of Mr. Kejriwal submitted that renewal permission be granted for a full 10 years as the AAP leader, in any case, has to seek permission to travel abroad.
The court, however, clarified that its order would not in any manner fetter the discretion of the Passport authorities in granting or refusing the renewal of a passport under the Indian Passports Act and the relevant rules.
'The 'no objection' granted vide this order shall remain in force for a period of 3 months from today within which the applicant may get his passport renewed. It goes without saying that the present order is not granting any permission to the applicant to travel abroad and if he ever desires to travel abroad for any purpose, he shall have to file appropriate application seeking such a permission,' the court said.
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