Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday expressed his utmost satisfaction over the Hon’ble High Court’s remarks, stating that a person cannot be denied a passport because his brother was a militant and his father an Over Ground Worker (OGW) for some militant outfit.
Pertinently, this observation was recorded in the case of an engineering graduate who wanted to seek an overseas job but was denied a passport because his brother was a militant some 14 years ago. Justice M A Chowdhary, after hearing the argument of the parties, recorded: “The argument of the authorities deserves to be rejected on the ground that merely because the brother of the petitioner was a militant and his father is an OGW of the terrorists, the petitioner cannot be deprived of his fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari termed the Hon’ble Court’s observations as a beacon for the clearance of passport applications that are pending for the same reasons.
He wrote on his X handle: “After the J&K Hon’ble High Court’s remarks stating that a person cannot be denied a passport because his brother was a militant and his father an OGW, it is hoped that police verifications will be promptly cleared, and the Srinagar Passport Office will expedite the processing of passport applications pending for similar reasons.”
“The court’s observations came during the proceedings of a case filed by an individual who had been denied a passport. I hope these remarks by the Hon’ble court will pave the way for the issuance of passports to aspirants, especially the youth who wish to move abroad for better livelihood opportunities,” the X post further reads.
