Kotteswaran Mahendiran v. The Regional Passport Office
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.03.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY KOTTESWARAN MAHENDIRAN ... Petitioner Vs 1.
THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, CHENNAI ROYALA TOWERS, NO.2 & 3, IV FLOOR, OLD NO. 785, NEW NO. 158, ANNA SALAI, CHENNAI - 600 002.
2.
THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SIPCOT - RANIPET, RANIPET DISTRCT, TAMILNADU.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to re-new the passport referred in Application Ref. No. MA51C5055595123 and as referred in the letter dated 04.07.2023 by the first respondent. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Srimathi For R1 : Ms.A.Anuradha Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 : Dr.C.E.Pratap Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/4
ORDER
This writ petition is filed seeking a mandamus directing the first respondent to renew the passport pursuant to the application bearing Ref. No. MA51C5055595123.
2. Upon hearing the learned counsel for both sides and perusing the material records of the case, the request for renewal is not granted because there are five first information reports pending against the petitioner. However, the issue has been settled by the Hon'ble Division Bench judgment of this Court in Arumugam vs Regional Passport Officer (W.A(MD) No. 301 of 2018) and the rules framed by the Government of India, which state that first information reports cannot be treated as criminal cases within the meaning of the Passport Act.
3. In view thereof, this writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:- (i) The first respondent is directed to consider the 2/4
application of the petitioner bearing Ref. No.
MA51C5055595123 and renew the passport, dehors the pendency of the first information reports.
(ii) The said exercise shall be completed within twelve weeks from the date of receipt of the web copy of this order, without waiting for the certified copy of the order.
(iii) No costs.
10.03.2025 nsl To 1.
THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, CHENNAI ROYALA TOWERS, NO.2 & 3, IV FLOOR, OLD NO. 785, NEW NO. 158, ANNA SALAI, CHENNAI - 600 002.
2.
THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SIPCOT - RANIPET, RANIPET DISTRCT, TAMILNADU.
3/4
D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.
nsl 10.03.2025 4/4