Territorial jurisdiction bars passport release and foreign travel relief once proceedings are filed before the competent court.

Territorial jurisdiction to grant passport release and permission to travel abroad ceased once a complaint under the Central Excise Act was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Meerut. Because the dispute was already pending before the competent court at Meerut, the Delhi High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to issue ancillary relief relating to the passport or foreign travel. The request was therefore declined, and the petition failed.

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Issues: Whether the Court had territorial jurisdiction to direct release of the passport and grant permission to travel abroad after prosecution had been launched before the competent court at Meerut.

Analysis: Once it was shown that a complaint case had been filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Meerut, in respect of offences under the Central Excise Act, the Court held that it had ceased to have territorial jurisdiction to deal with the request. In that situation, no direction could be issued for release of the passport or for permission to travel abroad from this forum.

Conclusion: The request for release of the passport and permission to travel abroad was declined, and the petition failed.

Ratio Decidendi: Where proceedings concerning the dispute are already instituted before the competent court having territorial jurisdiction, another court lacking territorial jurisdiction cannot grant ancillary travel or passport relief in the matter.

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