Anandan v. The Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Anandan ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, New Municipal Complex, Thillainagar 7th Cross, Trichy - 620 018.

2.The Inspector of Police, Orathanadu Police Station, Thanjavur District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the first respondent to issue a passport to the petitioner based on his application No. TR1066371387226 dated 10.02.2026 within the time stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner :Mr.K.M.Karunakaran For R1 :Mr.M.Gnanagurunathan Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 :Mr.M.Vaikkam Karunanithi Government Advocate (Crl.side) 1/4

O R D E R

The petitioner is before this Court seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to issue a passport to the petitioner based on his application in Application No. TR1066371387226 dated 10.02.2026.

2. The petitioner's passport has not been renewed on the ground that a criminal case is pending against him in C.C. No.1065 of 2025 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Orathanadu.

3. The Hon'ble Full Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.26547 of 2025, while considering the question as to whether the re-issue/renewal of a passport should be treated in the same manner as the issuance of a fresh passport or merely as a case of renewal, held that the reissue/renewal of a passport has to be treated by the Passport Authority in the same manner as the issuance of a fresh passport. However, liberty was granted to the petitioner therein to obtain prior permission from the concerned Court and submit the same along with the passport application 2/4

as contemplated under the provisions of the Passport Act.

4. In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional Court in which the criminal case is pending and file an appropriate application seeking permission for renewal of the passport. If such an application is filed, the concerned criminal court shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders expeditiously.

Index :Yes / No 12.03.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr To The Inspector of Police, Orathanadu Police Station, Thanjavur District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

cmr 12.03.2026 4/4