R.Thanabal v. The Regional Passport Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 28.10.2021

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN W.P. No. 23367 of 2021 R. Thanabal ..Petitioner

Versus

The Regional Passport Officer Ministry of External Affairs Government of India Saligramam No.1, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Road Saligramam Chennai ..Respondent Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent herein to process the passport application filed by the petitioner vide application reference No. 21-1000571549 dated 24.1.2021 through online, and acknowledged under Token No. S23, Counter No.A1 and CSE;PSP22318 dated 25.01.2021 for grant of a fresh ordinary passport to the petitioner at the earliest. For Petitioner :

Mr. R. Natarajan For Respondent :

Dr. G.C. Babu Senior Panel Counsel

ORDER

The petitioner seeks for issuing a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent herein to process the passport application submitted by him vide application reference No. 211000571549 dated 24.01.2021 through online, and acknowledged under Token No. S23, Counter No.A1 and CSE;PSP22318 dated 25.01.2021 for grant of a fresh ordinary passport to him at the earliest.

2. According to the petitioner, he is a lyric writer and a senior citizen aged 82 years. He obtained passport issued by the respondent bearing No. 1055599 dated 20.02.1991 but it was lost. Immediately, the petitioner informed the officials attached to the office of the respondent. Thereafter, on the basis of an application submitted by him, a fresh ordinary passport was issued to him bearing No. J0873110. It is also stated that visa https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

was issued to the petitioner by the Canadian Authorities till 16.08.2020. Before the expiry of the visa period, the petitioner submitted an application to the respondent on 31.07.2019, however, the application has not been processed by citing the Pandemic situation. Therefore, on 24.01.2021, the petitioner submitted a representation to the respondent to process his application for fresh ordinary passport. In response, the petitioner was called upon to appear before the respondent for an enquiry and accordingly, he appeared for an enquiry during February 2021 and submitted the requisite documents for scrutiny of the passport application.

3.

The grievance ofthe petitioner is that the respondent, after conducting an enquiry during February 2021, has not issued fresh ordinary passport to the petitioner till date. Therefore, he has come up with this Writ Petition.

4.

Heard the counsel for both sides and perused the materials placed. Considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, directs the respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.01.2021 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, after affording reasonable opportunity of hearing to him as well as any other interested parties, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar dhk/rsh To The Regional Passport Officer Ministry of External Affairs Government of India Saligramam, No.1, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Road Saligramam, Chennai +2cc to Mr.R.Natarajan, Advocate, S.R.No.55774 WP No. 23367 of 2021 SJ(CO) RGA(22/11/2021) https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/