B.Venkatesan v. The Regional Passport Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated :04.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA B.Venkatesan

...Petitioner

-Vs1. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

2. The Inspector of Police, SIPCOT Police Station, Krishnagiri ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent herein to take proper action to consider the petitioner's representation dated 19.01.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Vijayaraj For Respondent-1 :Mr.S.Parthiban, Central Government Standing Counsel For Respondent-2 : Mr.L.Baskaran Government Advocate(Crl.Side) 1/5

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent herein to take action on the petitioner's representation dated 19.01.2026.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he had applied for issuance of a passport on 12.12.2023 before the office of the first respondent. On receipt of the said application, the first respondent withheld the application on the ground that two criminal cases are pending against him. The petitioner would submit that the said criminal cases are only at the FIR stage in Crime Nos.630 and 631 of 2025 on the file of the SIPCOT Police Station, Krishnagiri which arose out of a democratic protest and do not involve any offence or violence or heinous nature. He would also submit that, as on date, no charge sheet has been filed against him. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted a representation to the first respondent on 19.01.2026 seeking issuance of his passport. However, no action has been taken on the said representation to date. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.

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

4.. In view of the above, the first respondent is directed to take note of the fact that only FIRs have been registered in the year 2022 and that no charge sheet has been filed till date, and to consider the petitioner's representation seeking issuance 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 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The 1st respondent shall bear in mind the dicta laid down in the 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. 04.02.2026 Index : Yes/No Speaking Order : Yes / No srn 3/5

To

1. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

2. The Inspector of Police, SIPCOT Police Station, Krishnagiri 4/5

P.T.ASHA, J., srn 04.02.2026 5/5