India - Madras High Court held husband's permission for apply for a passport is not necessary.(J. Revathy Vs. The Government of India.)

Madras High Court's decision that a woman does not lose her individuality after marriage and she has always the full legal right to apply for a passport without her husband's permission or Signature.

The Court observed that the practice of insisting on a husband's permission to apply for a passport does not augur well for a society striving for women's emancipation and is nothing short of male supermascism.

Incident led to litigation before the Madras High Court

A passport application submitted by the Petitioner (J Revathy) was kept in abeyance by the Regional Passport Authority of india on the ground that her husband had not signed the relevant application form.

Hence she approached the Madras High Court for redresal of grievances.

Accordingly the Court gave direction to the Passport Authority of India to process her application and issue the Passport within four weeks provided other formalities are satisfied.

This judgement of the Madras High Court reemphasized the right to equality and gender justice enshrined in the Constitution of India.

(Topic is relevant for Judicial Services Examination and Civil Service Examination)