Debt recovery tribunal can’t order passport surrender: HC

The high court has ruled that the debt recovery tribunal (DRT) lacks the power to seek passport surrender or retention. Shambhukumar Kasliwal, a Mumbai resident, filed a petition and was directed by Justice M Nagaprasanna to return his surrendered passport to DRT Bengaluru. The judge stated that neither civil nor criminal courts have the authority to impound passports. The DRT’s power is limited and cannot extend to impounding passports. The court reserved the right for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to impound Kasliwal’s passport if necessary, in accordance with the Passports Act.