A Delhi court has permitted Natasha Narwal, an accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, to complete the formalities necessary for obtaining a 10-year Indian passport, while making it clear that the permission does not authorise her to travel abroad.
Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts allowed Narwal to depart from India solely for the limited purpose of completing the passport issuance process. The court directed that once the passport is issued, it must be deposited before the court on the following day.
The court specifically clarified that Narwal cannot leave the country after obtaining the passport unless she secures a separate and fresh order permitting such overseas travel.
The order was passed on Narwal’s application seeking permission to approach the Passport Authority for issuance of the document. Her counsel submitted that the request was confined to completing the statutory formalities for obtaining the passport and did not, at this stage, seek permission for foreign travel.
It was further submitted that after the passport is issued, Narwal would surrender it before the trial court and thereafter seek permission to travel to the United Kingdom for pursuing her Ph.D.
The Delhi Police opposed the application, contending that Narwal should first approach the Passport Authority and seek judicial intervention only if any objection was raised to the issuance of the passport. The prosecution, however, also sought a direction requiring her to deposit the passport with the court immediately upon its issuance and obtain prior permission before travelling overseas.
The court considered the submissions in light of the Supreme Court judgment relied upon by Narwal’s counsel and granted permission limited strictly to the passport issuance process.
The court’s order also takes into account the Ministry of External Affairs memorandum dated December 6, 2024, concerning the issuance of passports to persons facing pending criminal proceedings. The memorandum clarifies the procedural requirement of obtaining permission from the concerned trial court to depart from India before the Passport Authority processes such an application.
Narwal is an accused in FIR No. 59 of 2020, registered in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy underlying the North-East Delhi riots. The case is being investigated by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, and she faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as well as provisions of other penal law
The post Delhi Court permits Natasha Narwal to obtain 10-year passport, bars overseas travel without fresh Judicial approval appeared first on India Legal.