Narayanasamy v. The Regional Passport Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 12.09.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI Narayanasamy ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore, Cuddalore District.
3.The Inspector of Police, Ramanatham Police Station, Cuddalore District.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent consider to issue passport to petitioner and petitioner's application pending in file No.MAG075067319025 dated 22.05.2025 on the file of 1st respondent within a time fixed by this Court. Page No.1 of 6
For Petitioner : Mr.K.Karuppaiya Mooppanar For Respondents : Mr.A.Poorna Chandran [R1] Mr.S.Balaji Government Advocate (Crl.Side) [R2 & R3] *****
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking for a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent to issue passport to the petitioner by considering his application pending in file No.MAG075067319025 dated 22.05.2025 on the file of the 1st respondent, within a time fixed by this Court.
2. Mr.A.Poorna Chandran, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the 1st respondent and Mr.S.Balaji, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side), accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 2 and 3. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.
3. The case of the petitioner is that in order to propose to go to work in Singapore, he made an application seeking issuance of passport through online vide Application File No.MAG075067319025 dated Page No.2 of 6
22.05.2025. Subsequently, he received a letter dated 20.07.2025 from the 2nd respondent stating that an adverse police verification report has been received from the respondents 2 and 3 and an FIR in Crime No.101 of 2024 dated 05.06.2024 is pending against him. Since the petitioner's application was kept pending without any progress on the ground that FIR is pending against him, the petitioner filed the above writ petition before this Court for appropriate directions.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that due to previous enmity, he has been falsely implicated in the said case. He further submits that though an FIR has been registered against the petitioner, no charge sheet has been filed so far. He also submits that, it is a settled position of law that the mere pendency of FIR is not a bar for the authority to issue passport to the petitioner.
5. The learned counsel appearing for the first respondent, on instructions, submits that the petitioner's application dated 22.05.2025 will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed by the first respondent on merits and in accordance with Passport Act and Rules, as expeditiously as possible.
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6. Admittedly, it is a settled position of law that the mere pendency of FIR is not a bar for the authority to issue passport. Therefore, this Court, directs the first respondent to consider the petitioner's passport application dated 22.05.2025 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.
12.09.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order sp Page No.4 of 6
To 1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs, New No.158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore, Cuddalore District.
3.The Inspector of Police, Ramanatham Police Station, Cuddalore District.
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M.DHANDAPANI, J.
sp 12.09.2025 Page No.6 of 6