New Delhi, Oct. 28 -- The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the Centre's decision to increase passport issuance and renewal fees, observing that a hike of around 67% over 14 years could not be considered unreasonable.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma said the determination of passport fees falls within the government's policy domain and that judicial intervention is unwarranted unless the charges are found to be unreasonably exorbitant.

"As long as such fees, which are levied towards the renewal of a passport or for processing of a passport, are not found to be unreasonably exorbitant, the Court is not required to interfere with such policies," ...