The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Central government's new policy mandating uniform pricing for consular passport and visa (CPV) services, irrespective of whether the applicant avails additional value added services (VAS) or not.
A bench of Justices K.V. Vishwanathan and Nongmeekapam Kotiswar Singh issued notice to the Union of India on a plea filed by Raghavendra Bagal, an Indian national living in Oman. The petitioner has raised serious concerns about the revised Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in February 2025, arguing that it imposes a uniform fee on all applicants, making them pay for VAS even if such services are not used.
"The grievance is that whatever service the individual avails, a uniform fee is fixed irrespective of the nature of the service," the bench recorded during the proceedings on June 26, 2025.
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Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the petitioner's PIL saying it lacked jurisdiction. It also noted that only certain conditions of the RFP were challenged and several bidders had already approached the court regarding ineligibility and other concerns related to the conditions.
However, the petitioner's counsel, advocate Dheeraj Malhotra, argued before the Supreme Court that the High Court erred in citing pending petitions of third-party vendors to dismiss the citizen's plea.
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"The high court has erred in paragraph 8 by referring the petition of the bidders who have challenged certain other conditions and disqualifications to the petitioner, thereby depriving the petitioner of his right to mention the petition," Malhotra said.
He further clarified that the petitioner, being an Indian passport holder residing abroad, is directly affected by the pricing policy and is therefore entitled to file the petition.
The Supreme Court accepted the submissions and issued notice to the Centre, posting the matter for return on July 25, 2025. The court also directed that a copy of the petition be served on the Solicitor General.
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The petition has been filed with the assistance of advocate-on-record Puneet Singh Bindra.
Case Details : RAGHAVENDRA BAGAL v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR.| Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 16610/2025