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Trending Today INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT THE CASE LAW Allahabad High Court Grants Relief to BBC Journalist in Mosque Demolition FIR and Passport NOC Case JOB OPPORTUNITY AT LEXLEGIS.AI, DELHI Supreme Court Urges Indian Railways to Adopt Technology for Preventing Cargo Weight Disputes INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT LAW OFFICES OF PANKAJ ANIL ARORA Manipur Unrest Escalates: Curfew Imposed, Internet Shutdown Amid Arambai Tenggol Protests INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT PUTHRAN & ASSOCIATES Supreme Court Upholds ITBP Constable’s Dismissal for Cash Box Theft: ‘Guardian Turned Looter’ JOB OPPORTUNITY AT ENFOLD JOB OPPORTUNITY AT PHYSICSWALLAH, NOIDA Allahabad High Court Grants Relief to BBC Journalist in Mosque Demolition FIR and Passport NOC Case PRABHAT KUMAR BILTORIA 10 June 2025 BBC journalist Mohammad Seraj Ali receives relief from the Allahabad High Court in a significant case involving passport denial after reporting on the Barabanki mosque demolition. Learn more about the court’s ruling and implications for press freedom in India. BBC Journalist Mohammad Seraj Ali Gets Relief from Allahabad High Court in Passport NOC Case On June 8, 2025, journalist BBC India reporter Mohammad Seraj Ali was granted relief by the Allahabad High Court. The decision comes after he faced legal hurdles and a denied No Objection Certificate (NOC) that prevented the renewal of his passport. Background: Mosque Demolition in Barabanki and FIR Against Journalist The case stems from Seraj’s reporting on the demolition of a mosque in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, on May 17, 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the district administration declared the mosque in Ram Sanehi Ghat an illegal structure and proceeded to demolish it. The incident was widely covered by national and international outlets including BBC Hindi, The Guardian, and ANI. Soon after, an FIR was lodged on June 24, 2021, against several individuals including Seraj. The charges were filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Journalist’s Legal Battle for Passport Renewal Seraj, who was then working at the news platform The Wire, co-authored a video report titled “How a Mosque in UP’s Barabanki was Demolished” with colleague Mukul Singh Chauhan. He left The Wire in September 2021 to join BBC India as a video journalist. On September 30, 2022, he applied for a passport renewal, knowing his document would expire in April 2023. Since the case was still pending, the Regional Passport Office demanded an NOC or a judicial order, which the local court denied in its orders dated August 21, 2023, and May 5, 2025. High Court Cites Precedent and Grants Relief Represented by legal counsel, Seraj challenged the trial court’s decision in the High Court. His lawyer cited the judgment in Mohammad Ayaz @ Anas v. State of UP, highlighting that the rejection did not consider key Office Memorandums dated August 25, 1993, and October 10, 2019, which guide NOC issuance during pending criminal trials. Justice Abdul Moin found the trial court’s decision to lack proper judicial scrutiny. As a result, the Allahabad High Court annulled the lower court’s orders. Court Directives and Next Steps The High Court laid out the following instructions: Seraj may apply for passport renewal or re-issuance with the Regional Passport Officer within 20 days. The Passport Authority must resolve the application within one month, following standard verification protocols and referencing the High Court’s order. For any international travel, prior approval from the trial court is required. The court also instructed that a copy of the ruling be forwarded to the Deputy Solicitor General of India and the State’s Additional Government Advocate to notify relevant departments. Significance of the Ruling for Press Freedom This ruling highlights critical issues concerning press freedom in India, especially for journalists facing legal action related to their reporting. By acknowledging oversight in the lower court’s handling of the case, the High Court reaffirmed the importance of adhering to procedural fairness and existing government guidelines. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Sada Law. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Live Cases Allahabad High Court Grants Relief to BBC Journalist in Mosque Demolition FIR and Passport NOC Case Allahabad High Court Grants Relief to BBC Journalist in Mosque Demolition FIR and Passport NOC Case Sada Law • June 10, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments Supreme Court Urges Indian Railways to Adopt Technology for Preventing Cargo Weight Disputes Supreme Court Urges Indian Railways to Adopt Technology for Preventing Cargo Weight Disputes Sada Law • June 10, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments Manipur Unrest Escalates: Curfew Imposed, Internet Shutdown Amid Arambai Tenggol Protests Manipur Unrest Escalates: Curfew Imposed, Internet Shutdown Amid Arambai Tenggol Protests Sada Law • June 10, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments 1 2 3 … 5 Next »