Court asks Centre to rethink short-validity passports for citizens facing criminal charges

The Karnataka High Court has requested the central government to reconsider the validity period of short-validity passports for individuals facing criminal charges. Justice Suraj Govindaraj expressed concern that the limited one-year validity of these passports could present difficulties for petitioners seeking to renew their documents.

Short-validity passports are issued when a court permits a suspect to travel abroad during criminal proceedings. The court acknowledged the requirement of six-month validity for foreign visas and noted that authorities should weigh the practical implications before modifying passport policies. The case involves Ajith Ranka, a Bengaluru resident accused of various criminal offenses, who was denied passport renewal in December 2025 and subsequently sought extension through the high court.

The court acknowledged the importance of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in Mahesh Kumar Agarwal and Maneka Gandhi cases.