Passports Act, 1967
7. Duration of travel document
A passport or travel document shall, unless
revoked earlier, continue in force for such period as may be prescribed
and different periods may be prescribed for different classes of passports or
travel documents or for different categories of passports or travel documents
under each such class:
Provided that a passport or travel document may
be issued for a shorter period than the prescribed period-
(a) if the person by whom it is required so
desires; or
(b) if the passport authority, for reasons to
be communicated in writing to the applicant, considers in any case that the
passport or travel document should be issued for a shorter period.