New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to return the passport of human rights activist Teesta Setalvad, citing the absence of specific details regarding any proposed foreign travel, effectively shutting down her immediate plea.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta, Satish Chandra Sharma and Alok Aradhe made it clear that without a concrete travel plan, including destinations and purpose, the request could not be entertained. The court indicated that a detailed travel itinerary would be essential before any consideration of releasing the passport.
Appearing for Setalvad, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that although no immediate travel plans were fixed, her passport would need renewal within a year, and access to the document was necessary for that process. The bench, however, maintained that directions could be issued at the appropriate time if such a situation arose, signalling little urgency in granting relief now.
At the same time, the court acknowledged that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental right and indicated that any future request would not be unnecessarily delayed. Setalvad has been given the liberty to approach the court again with a fresh application when she has clear travel plans.
The case is rooted in the 2002 Gujarat riots-related investigation, where the Gujarat Police accused Setalvad of fabricating evidence. She was granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2023, with one of the conditions requiring her to surrender her passport to the sessions court.
Earlier, she had been granted special permission by the court to travel abroad, including visits to Amsterdam and Malaysia for documentary screenings. However, the latest ruling underscores the court’s firm position that such permissions will not be routine and must be backed by specific and verifiable travel details.