Srinagar, June 4: High Court has set aside the order of refusal of release of passport to former District Magistrate Poonch impounding the same by the passport authority with the direction to release his passport or issue a fresh one to him after completion of all formalities.
Former Deputy Commissioner Poonch-Sajad Ahmad Khan challenged the order dated 11.09.2021, issued by the Special Judge Anti-Corruption CBI Cases, Jammu, whereby his application for release of his passport has been rejected.
His passport was impounded in view of pendency of criminal case with regard to a fake gun license scam.
Justice Sindhu Sharma while setting aside the trial court order as also the communication of passport authority rejecting to issue fresh passport said, the respondents have failed to place any material on record to indicate that the impounding of the passport of Khan was with regard to the security concerns of the Union Territory of J&K and the fact that impounding of passport was necessary in the interest of security of India & added that when the petitioner is a senior citizen who has retired from Indian Administrative Service and there are no such allegations against him
Justice Sharma allowed the plea of Khan and directed the Regional Passport Officer to pass an appropriate order either to release the passport of the petitioner or issue a fresh passport to him after completion of all formalities.
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