In a powerful verdict reinforcing women's individual rights, the Madras High Court has ruled that a married woman does not require her husband's permission or signature to apply for a passport. The judgment, delivered by Justice N Anand Venkatesh, came while disposing of a petition filed by a woman named Revathy, who had challenged the insistence of the Regional Passport Office (RPO) on obtaining her estranged husband's signature for processing her passport application.

The court’s ruling is being hailed as a major win for gender equality and personal freedom.

"It is not necessary for a wife to get the permission of her husband and take his signature before applying for a passport before the authority," Justice Venkatesh stated in a strongly worded order.

Revathy, the petitioner, had applied for a fresh passport in April 2025. However, the RPO refused to process her application, citing the lack of her husband's signature in Form-J. The officials further noted that a matrimonial dispute was pending between the couple, with the husband having already filed for divorce.

Terming the RPO's reasoning as legally untenable and socially regressive, the court emphasized that a woman’s autonomy is not dependent on her marital status. “This insistence made by the RPO shows the mindset of the society in treating women who were married as if they were chattel belonging to the husband. It is quite shocking,” the judge observed.

Justice Venkatesh clarified that the passport application must be processed independently, without any prejudice arising from the petitioner’s marital status or pending legal disputes.

Women’s rights activists have welcomed the ruling, saying it sets a clear precedent against outdated practices that infringe upon women’s freedoms. Legal experts also noted that this judgment could influence administrative reforms in passport documentation procedures across India.