Barnali Khandelwal

Profile description

If you are an Indian citizen abroad and a court order suddenly blocks your ability to travel, the uncertainty can jeopardize your job, studies, or family reunification. You may have been issued a travel ban under sections of the Criminal Procedure Code or the Foreign Exchange Management Act, even though you have not been convicted of any offence. In that critical moment, you need a lawyer who knows how to contest such restrictions swiftly. Barnali Khandelwal focuses on NRI challenges to foreign travel bans and can help you regain the right to leave the country.

Barnali Khandelwal graduated with an LL.B. from Guru Nanak Dev University and completed a Master of Laws in International Human Rights at the University of Edinburgh. For the past nine years she has defended NRIs before the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, securing the release of passports and the lifting of travel prohibitions. Her track record includes over thirty successful petitions that resulted in immediate quash of travel bans, and she is praised for her meticulous research and persuasive oral arguments.

The practice centers on filing writ petitions under Article 21 of the Constitution, challenging detentions that lack substantive evidence, and invoking international conventions that protect the freedom of movement. Barnali Khandelwal regularly assists clients in preparing affidavits, gathering electronic footprints, and coordinating with foreign consulates to demonstrate the lack of any legitimate risk. She can explain how to argue that the travel restriction is disproportionate, that procedural safeguards were ignored, and how to seek interim relief that restores passport possession while the case proceeds.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh is the principal forum for contesting travel bans imposed on NRIs. Barnali Khandelwal has appeared before this bench for numerous writ hearings, earning a reputation for concise submissions that focus on constitutional rights. When a matter requires clarification from the highest judicial authority, she is prepared to elevate the issue to the Supreme Court of India, drafting special leave petitions that have resulted in precedent‑setting orders protecting NRI mobility.

Her method blends thorough fact‑finding with strategic litigation. She begins by reviewing the exact wording of the travel restriction order, then designs a plan that may include filing a suo motu petition, seeking a stay, or presenting a collateral relief application. Throughout the process she provides clear updates, translating legal language into plain English, and sets realistic expectations about timelines and possible outcomes. Clients value her relentless advocacy and her ability to navigate complex procedural rules without delay.

If a travel ban threatens to derail your plans, do not accept it passively. Contact Barnali Khandelwal to discuss the specifics of your case, and let her work to restore your passport and freedom of movement. With her proven success in challenging restrictive orders, you gain an advocate who can turn a sudden legal obstacle into a resolvable matter.

Criminal Law Practice Areas