Bombay HC Grants Passport to 17-Year-Old Girl Against Father’s Wishes
The Bombay High Court has ordered a passport for a minor despite her father’s objections amid ongoing divorce proceedings
Bombay, India, Passport, High Court, Minor Rights, Parental Dispute
Bombay: So, there’s this interesting case that just came up in the Bombay High Court. They decided that a 17-year-old girl should get her passport, even though her dad didn’t want her to. The court said that her right to travel is super important and can’t be held back just because her parents are having a rough time.
The court told the Pune Regional Passport Office to get her passport sorted out in two weeks. Apparently, the girl’s dad had raised some objections, but the court was like, “No way, that’s not fair.” They pointed out that the right to travel is part of personal freedom, and it’s protected by the Constitution.
So, the girl lives with her mom, and she’s doing really well in school. She even got great marks in her Class 10 exams and was supposed to go on a study tour to Japan. The court made it clear that just because her dad didn’t give a No Objection Certificate, it shouldn’t stop her from traveling.
The judges were pretty firm about it, saying that personal liberty includes the right to travel. They also mentioned that traveling is a big deal these days, whether it’s for school or work. Denying her that chance could really mess with her future.
They weren’t too happy with the passport office either, saying they need to be more in tune with what’s happening in the world today. The girl’s mom had already done what was needed under the law, so there was no reason to hold things up.
In the end, the court called out the dad for not having any solid reasons to block the passport. Just saying no isn’t enough, especially when there’s no court order against it. So, the girl is all set to get her passport and hopefully travel soon!