Maneka Gandhi's passport was impounded on July 4, 1977 under Section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act of 1967. She filed a petition challenging the impounding as a violation of her rights to travel abroad and freedom of speech and expression under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that Section 10(3)(c) granted vague powers to passport authorities and violated Article 14. The court established that any law depriving a person's liberty must also fulfill the requirements of Articles 14 and 19, and that "procedure established by law" is synonymous with "due process of law".