The passport of Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar was confiscated by Mumbai Regional passport office on December 9 citing nine FIRs filed against her between 1996 and 2017.
The cases were filed in various districts of Madhya Pradesh. Patkar had sought 45-days’ time on November 30 to for submitting the court orders and other documents in response to a show-cause notice served to her seeking details of the cases, but her plea was rejected. She was given seven days’ time to submit the passport. The passport was issued to her on 30.03.2017 and was valid till 29.03.2027.
The show-cause notice said that Medha Patkar had suppressed information while obtaining the passport and demanded to know why no legal steps should be taken against her under the Passport Act of 1967.
The show-cause notice said that Medha Patkar had suppressed information while obtaining the passport and demanded to know why no legal steps should be taken against her under the Passport Act of 1967.
She said that she was surprised to see the large number of cases that were pending against her as most of those cases had been filed against what she described to be “absolutely non-violent, peaceful” protests.
The activist added that she tried to procure the copies of those orders and other documents related to the cases but it was difficult for her because of her busy touring schedule.
She also argued that all the cases which were filed against her and others in 2002, 2006 and 2007 were disposed of by court before she had applied for the passport.
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