Kumaravelu Shanmugam v. The Regional Passport Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA Kumaravelu Shanmugam ..Petitioner Vs

1. The Regional Passport Officer Chennai Royal Towers, No.293, IV Floor, Old No.785, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

2. The Inspector of Police Thiru.Vi.Ka.Nagar, K9 Police Station, Chennai ..Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to consider petitioner's representation dated 28.11.2025 and renewal the petitioner's passport vide Application No.MA2075836170125 dated 28.10.2025 within a time frame fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner(s):

Mr.P.G.Kugan For Respondent(s):

Mr.A.Poornachandran Central Government Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.LK.Baskaran Govt. Advocate [ Crl.Side] for R2

ORDER

The petitioner has filed the above writ petition seeking a mandamus to the respondents to consider his representation dated 28.11.2025 for renewal of his passport vide Application No.MA2075836170125.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he applied for renewal of his passport on 28.10.2025 before the office of the first respondent. On receipt of the said application, the first respondent, vide letter dated 22.11.2025, informed the petitioner that an adverse police verification report had been received from Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar K-9 Police Station in respect of the petitioner in F.I.R. No.699 of 2022.

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3. The petitioner would submit that he is a social worker and political activist, and that the said F.I.R. might have been registered in connection with some protest for a social cause. He would further submit that he was not aware of the registration of the said F.I.R. until he was informed by the first respondent. He would also submit that, as on date, no charge sheet has been filed and no summons has been served on him. The petitioner thereafter submitted a representation to the first respondent seeking renewal of his passport. However, no action has been taken on the said representation to date. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court.

4. Heard the submissions of the counsels and this Court also perused the records.

5. In view of the above, the first respondent is directed to take note of the fact that only an FIR was registered in the year 2022, but no charge sheet has been filed till date, and to consider the petitioner's representation seeking renewal of his passport and pass appropriate orders, if all other parameters are found to be in order, in accordance with law, within a period of four __________Page 3 of 5

weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The 1st respondent shall bear in mind the dicta laid down in a recent judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported as Mahesh Kumar Agarwal Vs Union of India [SLP(Civil) No.17769 of 2025. Accordingly, this writ petition is allowed. No costs.

29-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order srn To:

1. The Regional Passport Officer Chennai Royal Towers, No.293, IV Floor, Old No.785, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

2. The Inspector of Police Thiru.Vi.Ka.Nagar, K9 Police Station, Chennai __________Page 4 of 5

P.T.ASHA J.

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