Generally, no — under the Passport Rules applicable in India, obtaining or making changes to a minor child's passport typically requires the consent of both parents, reflecting the law's recognition that decisions affecting a child's international travel documentation are significant matters requiring joint parental involvement, particularly where custody or divorce proceedings are pending or have concluded with specific custody arrangements in place.

If both parents have joint or shared custody, passport applications or modifications generally require both parents' signatures or documented consent, and passport authorities in Delhi will typically request this joint consent unless a court order specifically addresses passport-related decision-making authority, such as through a final custody order that designates one parent with exclusive authority over the child's travel documentation and international travel decisions.

If your spouse has attempted to apply for or cancel your child's passport without your knowledge or consent during pending divorce or custody proceedings, you can bring this to the immediate attention of the Delhi family court, seeking an appropriate order restraining unilateral action on the child's passport, and you can also directly notify the regional passport office of the ongoing dispute and request that no action be taken without your explicit consent or a specific court directive. Passport authorities generally take such notifications seriously given the sensitive nature of custody disputes.

Given the potential for passport-related actions to facilitate unauthorised international travel or removal of a child, it is important to proactively address this issue early in your custody or divorce proceedings rather than waiting for a problem to arise. Consulting the team at Aapka Legal Advice can help you understand your rights regarding your child's passport and take appropriate preventive steps if you have concerns about unilateral action by your spouse.

Given the significant implications passport control can have for preventing unauthorised international travel with a child, obtaining a second opinion from a retired judge on how to best secure your parental rights regarding your child's passport can provide valuable protective guidance. Delhi's experienced family law advocates and retired judges, available through Aapka Legal Advice's Delhi divorce lawyer directory, regularly assist with these passport and international travel-related custody concerns.

In conclusion, one parent generally cannot unilaterally apply for or cancel a child's passport in Delhi without the other's consent, and proactively addressing this issue through the family court provides important protection against unauthorised action.