Harish Venkatachalam v. Regional Passport Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 03-10-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI
1. Harish Venkatachalam S/o Venkatachalam C-114, Sunnyvale Apartments 351, Konnur High Road, Ayanavaram Chennai 600 023 Petitioner(s) Vs
1. Regional Passport Officer Rayala Towers 2 And 3, IV Floor, 158 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 2.Inspector Of Police K2 Police Station, Aynavaram, No 224 Konnur High Road, Tagore Nagar, Aynavaram, Chennai 600 023 Respondent(s) PRAYER Writ petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to quash the objection Letter bearing Ref No. OBJ / 1049932052 / 25 issued by the 1st Respondent Authority vide Email dated 25.08.2025 and to direct the 1st respondent authority to renew the petitioners passport bearing No Z3507285 based on the Application No
MA2075446828625 made by the petitioner on 05.08.2025 to pass orders. For Petitioner(s):
M/s.Viruksham Legal for Mr.P.Mohan Prasad For Respondent:
Mr.K.Balaji, Standing counsel for R1 Mr.L.Baskaran, Government Advocate for R2
ORDER
This Writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned Letter bearing Ref No. OBJ / 1049932052 / 25 issued by the 1 st Respondent Authority vide Email dated 25.08.2025 and for a consequential direction to the 1 st respondent to renew the petitioner's passport bearing No Z3507285 based on the Application No MA2075446828625 made by the petitioner on 05.08.2025. 2.
Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
3.
The petitioner seeks issuance of renewal of passport to enable the petitioner to participate in an event at Dubai on 07.10.2025. The objection of the Department appears to be that oral instructions were received from the Official Liquidator Attached to Karnataka High Court, who has sought for some information and therefore, the petitioner's renewal application has been kept pending. However, such an objection does not appear to be the reason for not renewing the passport of the petitioner. The reason given in the letter Ref. NoOBJ / 1049932052 / 25 dated 25.08.2025 appears to be that the passport authorities requires the original passport and the attested photo copy of the
passport of the parents of the petitioner and only on this sole ground, renewal of the petitioner's passport has been withheld. Rules do not require such production of passport of the parents of the petitioner. 4.
Further, it is also brought to the notice of this Court that both the parents hold valid passports and the petitioner was also having a passport, which was valid till 07.02.2026 and only for renewal, he has applied, in advance. I therefore do not see any embargo or legal impediment to withhold the passport of the petitioner. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the 2 nd respondent has already conducted a police verification and forwarded a report to the 1 st respondent as well. Therefore, there cannot be any embargo for the 1 st respondent for renewing the petitioner's passport. The renewal application shall be processed and passport issued, without insisting on the passport of the parents of the petitioner on copies thereof, if the renewal application is otherwise in order, on or before closing hours of 06.10.2025. 5.
This writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. 03-10-2025 Sms/ rka Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes/No
To 1.Regional Passport Officer Rayala Towers 2 And 3, Iv Floor, 158 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 2.Inspector Of Police K2 Police Station, Aynavaram, No 224 Konnur High Road, Tagore Nagar, Aynavaram, Chennai 600 023
P.B.BALAJI J.
Sms/rka 03-10-2025