Suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases
Section 10A of the Passports Act, 1967 deals with suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases. Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in section 10, if the Central Government or any designated officer is satisfied that the passport or travel document is likely to be impounded or caused to be impounded or revoked under clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 10 and it The Act came into force on 24 Jun 1967.
1[10A. Suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases.--(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in section 10, if the Central Government or any designated officer is satisfied that the passport or travel document is likely to be impounded or caused to be impounded or revoked under clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 10 and it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it or he may,--
(a) by order, suspend, with immediate effect, any passport or travel document;
(b) pass such other appropriate order which may have the effect of rendering any passport or travel document invalid,
for a period not exceeding four weeks:
Provided that the Central Government or the designated officer may, if it or he considers appropriate, extend, by order and for reasons to be recorded in writing, the said period of four weeks till the proceedings relating to variation, impounding or revocation of passport or travel document under section 10 are concluded:
Provided further that every holder of the passport or travel document, in respect of whom an order under clause (a) or clause (b) of this sub-section had been passed, shall be given an opportunity of being heard within a period of not later than eight weeks reckoned from the date of passing of such order and thereupon the Central Government may, if necessary, by order in writing, modify or revoke the order passed under this sub-section.
(2) The designated officer shall immediately communicate the order passed under sub-section (1), to the concerned authority at an airport or any other point of embarkation or immigration, and to the passport authority.
(3) Every authority referred to in sub-section (2) shall, immediately on receipt of the order passed under sub-section (1), give effect to such order.]
Section 10A, The Passports Act, 1967 (Act 15 of 1967).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Rajiv Saxena v. Union of India & Anr.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Delhi HC sets aside passport suspension under s.10A: emergent suspension is capped at four weeks unless extended by reasoned order; second proviso mandates hearing within eight weeks; indefinite suspension while s.10 proceedings stagnate, without hearing/reasons, violates statutory safeguards and Art.21 travel liberty (Maneka/Suresh Nanda line). DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2020-10-13 (order-6.pdf).
On this section: s.10A — Suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases; hearing and reasons
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 10A
What have the courts held on Section 10A of the Passports Act?
Rajiv Saxena v. Union of India & Anr. (13 Oct 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.10A — Suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases; hearing and reasons.
How do I find court cases under Section 10A of the Passports Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Passports Act 1967 10A, section 10A Passports Act 1967, section 10A of the Passports Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Rajiv Saxena v. Union of India & Anr. (13 Oct 2020).
What should I read with Section 10A of the Passports Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 10 (Variation, impounding and revocation of passports and travel documents), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When did Section 10A of the Passports Act come into force?
Section 10A of the Passports Act, cited as Passports Act 1967 10A, came into force on 24 Jun 1967, having been enacted on 24 Jun 1967. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 10. Variation, impounding and revocation of passports and travel documents872 words
- 24. Power to make rules495 words
- 5. Applications for passports, travel documents, etc, and orders thereon457 words
- 6. Refusal of passports, travel documents, etc441 words
- 12. Offences and penalties349 words
- 11. Appeals310 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.