M.Gopal v. The Regional Passport Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 01.09.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI M.Gopal ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers, No.2 and 3, IV Floor, Old No.785, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2.State rep by the Inspector of Police, Maharajakadai Police Station, Krishnagiri.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to reissue the passport based on the application of the petitioner dated 20.06.2025 in No.25-1054663718 on the file of the 1st respondent for a period of five years.
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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sadasharam For Respondents : Mr.S.Kasi Central Government Standing Counsel [R1] Mr.S.Balaji Government Advocate (Crl.Side) [R2] *****
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking for a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent to re-issue the passport based on the application of the petitioner dated 20.06.2025 in No.25-1054663718 on the file of the 1st respondent for a period of five years.
2. Mr.S.Kasi, learned Central Government Standing Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the 1st respondent and Mr.S.Balaji, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), accepts notice on behalf of the 2nd respondent. In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.
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3. The case of the petitioner is that, his passport is going to expire on 09.01.2026, thereby, he made an application seeking re-issuance of passport for another period of five years vide Application File No.251054663718 dated 20.06.2025. However, the 1st respondent has sent a letter dated 12.02.2024 stating the petitioner has to get orders from the concerned court for re-issue of passport. Therefore, the petitioner has filed the above writ petition before this Court for appropriate orders.
4. Though very many grounds have been raised in this writ petition, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, it would suffice, if this Court issues a direction to the 1st respondent to re-issue passport to the petitioner for a period of five years by considering his application vide dated 20.06.2025 in No.25-1054663718, within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court.
5. Learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the 1st respondent, on instructions, submitted that, the petitioner's passport application dated 30.06.2025 will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed by the 1st respondent, in accordance with Passport Act and Page No.3 of 6
Rules, as expeditiously as possible.
6. Considering the limited request sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the 1st respondent to consider the petitioner's passport application dated 20.06.2025 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with Passport Act and Rules, within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
01.09.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order sp Page No.4 of 6
To 1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers, No.2 and 3, IV Floor, Old No.785, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2.The Inspector of Police, Maharajakadai Police Station, Krishnagiri.
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M.DHANDAPANI, J.
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