Practice area

Look Out Circulars and passport matters

Writ petitions against Look Out Circulars, impounding or revocation of passports, and restrictions on travel.

The right to travel abroad is part of personal liberty under Article 21, as recognised in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978). Restrictions on that right must follow the law. The High Court hears petitions from people stopped at the airport or whose passports are impounded or revoked.

What this work involves

• Look Out Circulars: petitions to quash or stay an LOC, to examine whether it was issued in line with the government's guidelines and whether the request was justified
• Passport impounding and revocation: challenges to action under the Passports Act, 1967, including appeal to the appellate authority and writ petitions
• Refusal or delay in issuing or renewing a passport
• Permission to travel abroad when a criminal case or bail conditions restrict travel
• Immigration-point offloading and denial of boarding

Approach

The order, the stated reasons and the underlying case are reviewed first. Urgent matters, such as an imminent trip or a stranded traveller, can be mentioned for early listing.

Frequently asked questions

Can an LOC be challenged in the High Court?

Yes. Courts have examined LOCs by writ petition, including whether the authority acted within the guidelines and whether the person's liberty was unjustifiably curtailed.

Can a pending criminal case stop me from travelling abroad?

A pending case does not automatically bar travel, but the court trying the case can impose conditions, and the passport authority can act in specified situations. A court permission may be needed.

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