Thirumurugan Vedhamanickam v. The Regional Passport Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated: 20.02.2025 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY Thirumurugan Vedhamanickam, ... Petitioner /versus/

1. The Regional Passport officer, Office of The Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers No.2 & 3, 4th floor, old No:785, New No: 158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002, Tamil Nadu.

2. State rep by, The Inspector of police, Karuveppilankurichi Police Station, Viruthachalam, Cuddalore District.

... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st Respondent to consider my explanation dated 29.08.2024 to issue passport on my application Reference No.24-1009348009 and to renewal / re- issue the Passport No.N0670608.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Muthukrishnan For Respondents : Mr.N.K.Nithilavani, CGC R1 : Dr.C.E.Pratap, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) R2 ***

O R D E R

The grievance of the petitioner is that when the petitioner made application for renewal of passport, upon receipt of the adverse police report that the first information report is pending in Crime No.461/2021 on the file of the 2nd respondent police, the renewal is not granted. The matter has already been decided by this Court by Hon'ble Division Bench in Arumugam v. Regional Passport Officer in W.A.(MD).No.301 of 2018, pursuant to which, the Government of India has also issued instructions that mere pendency of the FIR shall not be treated as a criminal case and shall not be ground to refuse or renewal of the passport.

2. In view thereof, this writ petition is allowed on the following terms:

The respondents shall reconsider the application reference No.241009348009 of the petitioner and issue the renewal order within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of web copy of the order without waiting for the certified copy of the order.

There shall be no order as to costs.

20.02.2025 : No.

bsm To,

1. The Regional Passport officer, Office of The Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers No.2 & 3, 4th floor, old No:785, New No: 158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002, Tamil Nadu.

2. The Inspector of police, Karuveppilankurichi Police Station, Viruthachalam, Cuddalore District.

3. The Government Pleader, High Court, Madras.

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J.

bsm 20.02.2025