Gauhati High Court orders inquiry into passport issuance amid citizenship dispute

The Gauhati High Court has ordered the Assam Home Department and the Director General of Police to conduct an inquiry into the issuance of a passport to an individual whose citizenship was already being contested in a pending Foreigners Tribunal reference.

The court expressed confusion regarding how a favorable police verification report could have been issued while the petitioner’s citizenship status was under official question. A Division Bench consisting of Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi and Justice Pranjal Das directed authorities to identify responsible personnel and take appropriate action against any erring officials.

The matter arose from a writ petition filed by Ahmed Hussain, who challenged a 2019 Foreigners' Tribunal decision declaring him a foreigner. Hussain had provided various documents, including electoral rolls and school certificates, to support his claim of citizenship.