PIL In MP High Court Claims Lack Of Passport Office In District Violates Citizens' Fundamental Rights, Notice Issued
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (July 9) issued notice to the Union and State Government on a PIL petition seeking establishment of a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra in Katni district.
Acknowledging that setting up a passport office would involve various legal and procedural considerations by the State Government, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf in its order said:
"Notice is accepted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondents who prays for time to take instructions and file status report. At request, re-notify in the week commencing 18.08.2025".
Background
Per the petition, the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra scheme was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Posts. The scheme aimed to expand the passport services to the remotest parts of the country. The petition stated that while the scheme has been successfully implemented in over 400 locations, including 21 cities in Madhya Pradesh, Katni remained excluded. Karni, home to a large population of students, migrant workers and professionals, require passport services for employment, education, medical and personal purposes, the plea states.
It was stated that the residents were being compelled to travel to distant districts, in the absence of a passport office, resulting in financial strain and administrative inconvenience, especially for women, senior citizens and persons from economically weaker sections.
The petition also included a news report published by Patrika News Network, which raised concerns over the lack of a passport office despite repeated public appeals and growing demand. 'The continued non-establishment of a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in Katni amounts to a denial of timely and equitable access to essential public services, which is violative of the constitutional principles enshrined under Articles 14 and 21 of the a Constitution of India', the plea further stated.
The PIL is listed in the week commencing from August 18.
Case Title: Divyanshu Mishra Anshu v Union (WP-24323-2025)
Counsel For Petitioner: Advocates Aryan Urmaliya, Yogesh Soni, Deepandra Mishra, Ankita Saxena and Pankaj Kumar Dubey
Counsel For Respondent: Advocate Ishan Soni