Generally, one parent cannot apply for or cancel a child's passport in Bengaluru without the other's consent, since Indian passport rules are specifically designed to require both parents' involvement in decisions concerning a minor's travel documentation, precisely to prevent exactly the kind of unilateral action that could disadvantage the other parent or place the child at risk during custody disputes.

Under the Passport Rules and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, a minor's passport application typically requires the consent of both parents, usually reflected through submission of both parents' details and, in many cases, signatures or no-objection confirmation, unless one parent has been granted sole legal custody by a competent court, or unless the applying parent can demonstrate that obtaining the other parent's consent is not reasonably possible due to specific circumstances recognised under the rules, such as the other parent's whereabouts being unknown.

If you are engaged in ongoing divorce or custody proceedings in Bengaluru and are concerned that your spouse may attempt to apply for or renew your child's passport without your knowledge, your lawyer can proactively write to the regional passport office, providing details of the pending litigation and specifically requesting that no passport action be taken regarding your child without either your explicit consent or a court order permitting it. Passport authorities generally take such formal communications seriously, especially when pending court proceedings are clearly documented.

If your spouse has already obtained a passport for your child through improper means — for instance, by misrepresenting custody status or falsely claiming your consent — your lawyer can approach both the passport authorities to flag this irregularity and the Family Court to seek appropriate corrective directions, potentially including cancellation or surrender of the improperly obtained document pending resolution of the custody matter.

Where a final custody order has already been passed granting one parent sole legal custody, that parent generally gains the authority to make passport-related decisions independently, though even then, it is advisable to have this authority clearly reflected in the court order itself to avoid any procedural friction with passport authorities later.

Given how quickly passport-related complications can escalate into bigger custody concerns, addressing this proactively rather than reactively is always the wiser approach. Aapka Legal Advice regularly helps clients in Bengaluru put protective passport safeguards in place early in custody disputes. Its family lawyers in Bengaluru, together with a panel of retired judges available for consultation, can guide you through securing the right protections for your child's travel documentation.

In summary, one parent generally cannot obtain or cancel a child's passport in Bengaluru without the other's consent absent sole custody, and proactive legal steps can help ensure this safeguard is properly enforced.