THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.371 of 2009 ORDER: The petitioner was issued a passport bearing No.B.1221333 by the office of the respondent, in the year 1999. The date of birth of the petitioner was entered as 01-07-1977. According to the petitioner, he appeared for SSC examination in the year 2000, and the date of birth was recorded in the SSC certificate as 25-08-1982. The petitioner submitted an application to the respondent with a request to correct the entry, pertaining to the date of birth in the passport. Through memo dated 19-12-2008, the respondent required the petitioner to submit declaratory decree from a Civil Curt. The petitioner challenges the same. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, and learned Standing Counsel for the respondent. The petitioner passed the SSC examination after he was issued the passport. It is not known as to what proof he has filed before the respondent about the date of birth in the application. The date of birth was entered as 01-07-1997. The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, issued instructions from time to time, prescribing the guidelines for correction of entries in the passport. The recent guidelines of 2007 mandates that the correction of date of birth up to two years can be undertaken on production of sufficient proof, and any claim for the period beyond that, must be on the basis of the decree passed by a Civil Court. The respondent issued a memo, in accordance with the said circular. No exception can be taken to it. The writ petition is dismissed, leaving it open to the petitioner to approach the Civil Court and renew his request, depending upon the outcome of the suit. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.29-03-2011. KO