‘Sledgehammer to crack nut’: HC strikes down Haryana’s ban on staff foreign travel

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has overturned Haryana's ban on government employees traveling abroad, deeming it "a sledgehammer being used to crack a nut" as it unnecessarily restricts individuals' rights and freedoms. The court ruled that the blanket prohibition disproportionately impacted government staff, while failing to demonstrate a rational link between the objective of conserving fuel and resources and the complete ban on private foreign travel.

The court highlighted the right to travel abroad as part of Article 21's right to life and personal liberty, and emphasized that education is also a fundamental right. The nurse in question had initially been granted permission to take a professional examination in Australia but was subsequently denied by the government, citing the Haryana government's June 10 restrictions.

The court found the restriction to be arbitrary, noting that the government had not proven a rational connection between the stated objective and the restriction imposed. The court directed the authority to issue appropriate orders allowing the nurse to travel abroad for her examination.