The Bombay High Court has directed the regional passport authority to renew the passport of a convict so that he can go on the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
A Division Bench of Justices R.M. Savant and Revati Mohite-Dere was hearing a criminal petition filed by Iqbal Mohammed Kazi, who was convicted for attempting to murder B.D. Khatvakar on February 28, 2006. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹5,000. Two years later, he challenged his conviction and filed an appeal in the High Court. On April 8, 2008, a Division Bench granted him bail on a surety of ₹20,000.
The Centre had issued a notification on August 25, 1993, permitting issuance of passports to those facing criminal charges provided they produced a court order permitting them to travel abroad. The notification was issued by invoking the powers conferred on the Centre under Section 22 (a) of the Passport Act.
The counsel appearing for the passport authority said on the basis of the notification that the court could decide on the duration for which the passport has to be renewed. The Bench then directed that passport authority to renew Kazi’s passport for one year just to perform the pilgrimage and visit no other place.
The court also directed Kazi to submit his Haj itinerary to the police station concerned two weeks before his journey. The court said that Kazi would have to immediately report to the police station when he returns from the Haj pilgrimage and abide with other conditions of his bail.
