Court Calls for SOP to Ensure Timely Communication Between Judicial Orders and Airport Authorities
In a significant ruling, the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench, addressed the critical issue of Look Out Circulars (LOCs) being enforced despite judicial permissions allowing individuals to travel abroad. This judgment came in the case of Rishav Khemka v. Union of India, where the petitioner, Rishav Khemka, was detained at NSCBI Airport despite having been granted bail and permission to travel internationally by a trial court.
Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand highlighted the necessity for a structured approach to ensure that LOCs are promptly withdrawn once a court grants travel permissions. The court's decision comes in the wake of Khemka's detention, which was executed by immigration officials who failed to verify the legitimacy of the court's order.
The court has urged authorities to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to facilitate effective communication between the judiciary and airport authorities. This SOP would aim to prevent situations where individuals are unnecessarily detained due to administrative oversights.
The Additional Solicitor General, representing the government, acknowledged the issue and assured the court of actions being taken to address the procedural gap. The court has granted a period of four weeks for the authorities to report back on the measures implemented to formulate the SOP.
This judgment underscores the importance of inter-departmental coordination and the protection of individual rights, ensuring that judicial orders are respected and enforced without delay. The case is scheduled for further review on July 13, 2026.
Bottom line:-
Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against an accused must be withdrawn promptly when the concerned court grants permission to travel abroad. Authorities should have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in place to ensure timely communication between judicial orders and airport authorities, avoiding unnecessary detention of individuals at airports.
Statutory provision(s): Section 498A IPC, Section 406 IPC
Rishav Khemka v. Union of India, (Rajasthan)(Jaipur Bench) : Law Finder Doc id # 2922765
