1997 Uphaar cinema fire: HC rejects Gopal Ansal's early hearing plea in passport renewal matter

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

real estate tycoon Gopal Ansal, convicted in an evidence tampering case related to the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire trial, seeking an urgent hearing of his plea for renewal of passport for 10 years. The high court said an early hearing was not possible in the matter. «I consider that the board (work load) does not permit an early date.

The application is dismissed. List on September 4, the date already fixed in the matter,» Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said. Gopal Ansal, 75, has said in his application he needs to travel abroad for business meetings for which he has to get his passport renewed urgently.

Ansal's passport expired on December 12, 2020. He prayed for advancing the hearing from September 4 to an earlier date. He has sought renewal of his passport for 10 years, contending it is the normal validity period of an ordinary passport.

Ansal said he undertakes that once his passport has been renewed he will seek permission of the high court before leaving the country. The high court had earlier issued notices to the police and the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), represented through senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, on Ansal's passport renewal plea. The high court had said the record showed that by its August 10, 2021 order the trial court had maintained it had no objection to the renewal of the petitioner's passport as per rules and procedure which permit renewal of the travel document for one year for people facing trial or appellate proceedings.