FIR alone no ground to impound passport, says J&K HC

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court overturned a CBI court’s ruling, emphasizing that the existence of an FIR or a pending investigation alone is insufficient grounds to deny, impound, or withhold passport renewal. This decision was prompted by the seizure of a retired IAS officer’s passport during a raid connected to an investigation into illegal arms licenses. The court’s ruling highlights the need for more substantial evidence before restricting an individual’s right to travel based on ongoing inquiries.

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