India, Nov. 5 -- PRAYAGRAJ The Allahabad high court has observed that if a competent court grants a no-objection certificate (NoC) or permission for travelling abroad to a person accused in a criminal case, without specifying the duration for which the passport may be issued, the passport authority is justified in granting a passport valid for only one year.

The bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi recently observed so while disposing of a plea seeking reissuance of a 10-year passport based on an NoC granted by the chief judicial magistrate, Pilibhit.

The bench observed, "Where no specific period is stated in the order of the competent court, the passport may be issued for one year at a time and the said ...