eCourtsIndia
IndiaCode Laws
Section22
The Passports Act, 1967

Power to exempt

In force From 24 Jun 1967 Act 15 of 1967 As on 20 Oct 2026

Act 15 of 1967 Ministry External Affairs Enacted 24 Jun 1967 In force 24 Jun 1967 Instruments 12

Section 22 of the Passports Act, 1967 deals with power to exempt. Where the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions, if any, as it may specify in the notification,-- (a) exempt any person or class of persons from the operat The Act came into force on 24 Jun 1967.

Where the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions, if any, as it may specify in the notification,--

(a) exempt any person or class of persons from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; and

(b) as often as may be, cancel any such notification and again subject, by a like notification, the person or class of persons to the operation of such provisions.

Section 22, The Passports Act, 1967 (Act 15 of 1967).

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.

  1. Muhammed Rafsal v. Union of India

    High Court 26 Mar 2025 Persuasive (High Court) Reportable 2025:KER:26159; WP(C) No. 2723 of 2025 (Ker HC)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Red-corner notice alone is not a ground to refuse passport re-issue under Passports Act s.6; court permissions under GSR 570(E) (s.22 exemption from s.6(2)(f)) suffice for processing; cites Bhavesh Jayanti Lakhani on extradition/red notices. DATE VERIFIED Final Order / JUDGMENT 2025-03-26 (order-1.pdf).

    On this section: GSR 570(E) under s.22 exempts pending-court-proceedings ground where court permits passport issue.

    Read the full order on eCourts India

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.

Made under this section, and citing it

1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.

Another 11 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 22

What have the courts held on Section 22 of the Passports Act?

Muhammed Rafsal v. Union of India (26 Mar 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: GSR 570(E) under s.22 exempts pending-court-proceedings ground where court permits passport issue.

How do I find court cases under Section 22 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 22, section 22 Passports Act 1967, section 22 of the Passports Act. People searching for it also type passport act 22 a and passport act 1967 section 22. 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 Muhammed Rafsal v. Union of India (26 Mar 2025).

What should I read with Section 22 of the Passports Act, and has it changed?

The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently GSR 276 Exemption to passport holders whose passports got damaged/lost during the Novemebr 2015 flloods in Tamil Nadu 01.03.2016 (2016).

When did Section 22 of the Passports Act come into force?

Section 22 of the Passports Act, cited as Passports Act 1967 22, 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

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 20 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.