The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ruled that a person cannot be denied a passport just because their relatives were involved in anti-national activities.
Justice M A Chowdhary made this observation while hearing a petition filed by Mohammad Amir Malik, an engineering diploma holder from Ramban, who was seeking a passport to travel abroad for work. Authorities had withheld his clearance due to his brother’s past involvement in militancy and his father’s alleged links with a terror outfit.
The judge stated that decisions on passport approvals should be based on the applicant’s own activities, not those of their relatives. The court directed the police department to re-evaluate Malik’s case without considering his family’s history and submit a fresh report within four weeks. The regional passport office was then instructed to take action based on this report within two weeks.
The ruling was welcomed by political parties, including the People’s Conference and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the frequent denial of passports in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that even job seekers and journalists face similar issues due to negative reports from the CID. People’s Conference president Sajad Lone called the verdict a crucial step toward fairness and expressed hope that it would set a precedent for others facing similar problems.
Lone emphasized that individuals should be judged by their own actions, not their family ties. He hoped the ruling would bring relief to many young people in Jammu and Kashmir who have been unfairly restricted from opportunities due to their relatives’ past actions.
