Archive · 29 Oct 2025
Gujarat HC Rules for Single Moms: Passport Renewal for Kids Without Father's Consent
Imagine a mom and dad are divorced, and the kids live with the mom.
The mom needs to renew her kids' passports so they can go to school in another country.
But the passport office says she needs the dad's permission, even though they are divorced and the kids live with her.
The mom goes to court, and the judge says, 'It's okay!
If the parents are divorced and the kids live with one parent, that parent can renew the passports without the other parent's okay.'
This is great news for moms and dads who are divorced and are the main caregivers for their children.
Gujarat High Court allowed passport renewal for two minor children without the estranged father's consent.
The ruling provides relief to single parents, especially divorced mothers.
The Regional Passport Office had initially denied renewal, citing the need for the father's no-objection affidavit.
The court cited passport rules and a divorce MoU granting the mother custody.
The MEA guidelines allow for single-parent applications where only one parent's name is required.
- Who
- The Gujarat High Court, a divorced mother, and her two minor children
- What
- Ruled that passports for minor children can be renewed without the estranged father's consent or no-objection affidavit.
- When
- The ruling was made recently, with the mother having filed an application on July 11, 2025.
- Where
- Gujarat High Court, Ahmedabad
- Why
- The mother urgently needed passport renewals for her children, one of whom had a scheduled SAT exam for US higher education. The RPO had denied renewal due to the father's lack of consent, despite a divorce MoU granting the mother custody and stipulating the father's cooperation in legal matters.
- Court
- Gujarat High Court
- Case Type
- Passport Renewal for Minors
- Petitioner
- Divorced Mother
- Respondent
- Regional Passport Office (RPO), Ahmedabad
- Key Issue
- Consent from estranged father for passport renewal
- Legal Basis Cited
- Section 4(3) of Schedule-II of the Passport Rules, 1980