Geetha Murugaiyan v. The Regional Passport Officer
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 20.02.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE VIVEK KUMAR SINGH Geetha Murugaiyan ... Petitioner -vs1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Tiruchirapalli New Municipal Complex, Thillai Nagar 7th Cross, Tiruchirapalli - 620 018.
2.The Inspector of Police, Vangal Police Station, Karur District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to issue fresh passport to the petitioner, by considering her Application No.TR6066583150724 and disposing of her representation dated 22.01.2025, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Dhamodharan For R1 : Mr.S.Muthukmar Central Government Standing Counsel
For R2 : Mr.K.Gnanasekaran Government Advocate (Criminal side)
ORDER
With the consent of the parties, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2. Heard both sides.
3. The petitioner seeks issuance of passport. She has submitted an application before the jurisdictional passport officer. Apprehending that it may not be processed in view of her involvement in a criminal case, the present writ petition came to be filed.
4. When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal side) appearing for the second respondent submitted that the criminal case registered against the petitioner is pending at the F.I.R. stage.
5. It is well settled that when the case is pending only at the F.I.R. stage, there is no impediment for the Regional Passport Officer to grant the relief sought for by the petitioner herein.
6. The petitioner has to appear before the jurisdictional Police and file an affidavit indicating her contact details. The petitioner apart from furnishing her residential address must also give her WhatsApp mobile number, e-mail I.D. This is because, if any adverse final report is filed and the same is also taken on file by the jurisdictional criminal court, it should be possible to serve summons on the petitioner with the available details. The petitioner shall give an undertaking that the prosecution initiated against her will not be stalled on account of her absence from India. She should undertake that summons can be served on her through Email/WhatsApp. If necessary, the petitioner will have to execute a special Vakalat in future so that she can be represented by her counsel in the proceedings in terms of Section 205 of Cr.P.C.
7. Upon the passport authority being satisfied that such an undertaking affidavit has been filed before the jurisdictional Police, the jurisdictional Regional Passport Officer shall process the petition mentioned application and issue passport subject to fulfilment of the other usual formalities.
8. This Writ Petition is allowed on the above terms. There shall be no order as to costs.
NCC : Yes / No 20.02.2025 Index : Yes / No smn2 To:- 1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Tiruchirapalli New Municipal Complex, Thillai Nagar 7th Cross, Tiruchirapalli - 620 018.
2.The Inspector of Police, Vangal Police Station, Karur District.
VIVEK KUMAR SINGH , J.
smn2 20.02.2025