Kathir Kamachandran v. The Regional Passport Office

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 18.08.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH W.P.No.31240 of 2025 and WMP.No.34977 of 2025 M.Kathir Kamachandran .. Petitioner .Vs.

1.The Regional Passport Office Chennai Royala Towers No.2 and 158, Anna Salai Chennai 600 002.

2.Inspector of Police Neyveli Thermal Police Station Cuddalore District.

.. Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to issue passport to the petitioner based on the petitioner passport application in file No.MA6067427076325 dated 20.02.2025.

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For Petitioner : Mr.L.P.Maurya For Respondents : Mr.K.Gangadaran Central Government Counsel for R1 Mr.V.Meganathan Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R2

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed for issue of writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to issue passport based on the application submitted by the petitioner on 20.02.2025.

2.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the 2nd respondent submitted that an FIR came to be registered in Crime No.184 of 2020 and on completion of investigation, final report has been filed before the Juvenile Justice Board, 2/6

Cuddalore, since the petitioner was a juvenile at the time of the commission of the crime. The learned Government Advocate submitted that the final report is yet to be taken on file.

3.Heard Mr.L.P.Maurya, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Mr.K.Gangadaran, learned Central Government Counsel appearing on behalf of the 1st respondent and Mr.V.Meganathan, learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the 2nd respondent. 4.In the considered view of this Court, a mere registration of an FIR against the petitioner cannot be a ground for not processing the application submitted by the petitioner for issuance of passport. The law on this issue is now too well settled. Hence, there shall be a direction to the 1st respondent to process the application submitted by the petitioner and to issue passport in the name of the petitioner, if the petitioner has satisfied all the other requirements. This process shall be completed by the 1st respondent, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 3/6

5.This writ petition is disposed of with the above directions. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 18.08.2025 Index : Yes/No ssr 4/6

To 1.The Regional Passport Office Chennai Royala Towers No.2 and 158, Anna Salai Chennai 600 002.

2.Inspector of Police Neyveli Thermal Police Station Cuddalore District.

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N. ANAND VENKATESH., J ssr W.P.No.31240 of 2025 18.08.2025 6/6