Sam G.Jeba Joselin @ Samuel George Kalai Arasar v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 01.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Writ Petition(MD)No.6789 of 2026 Sam G.Jeba Joselin @ Samuel George Kalai Arasar .. Petitioner Vs The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi Race Course Road, Madurai - 625 002.

..Respondent Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondent to reissue the petitioner's passport bearing No.S6961930 by changing his name as "Samuel George Kalai Arasar" instead of "Sam George Jeba Joselin" by considering his Application Reference No.25-1055418455 dated 03.07.2025 within a reasonable time as may be prescribed by this court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Ragatheeshkumar for M/s Isaac Chambers For Respondent : Mr.M.Gnanagurunathan Central Govt. Standing Counsel 1/4

ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking a direction to the respondent to reissue his passport bearing No. S6961930, by effecting a change of name from "Sam George Jeba Joselin" to "Samuel George Kalai Arasar", pursuant to Application Reference No. 25-1055418455 dated 03.07.2025.

2. The petitioner's application has not been processed on the ground that the request involves a change of name. The petitioner submits that his name has been changed from "Sam George Jeba Joselin" to "Samuel George Kalai Arasar". In support of the said change, he has produced the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette dated 02.02.2011. He has also furnished his Aadhaar Card and PAN Card, wherein his name is reflected as "Samuel George Kalai Arasar". 3.The compendium of instructions/guidelines relating to issuance of passports in India/abroad stipulates that, for a change of name, the applicant shall furnish either clippings from two local newspapers or a Gazette notification of the concerned State, along with at least two public or school documents issued in the changed name, to establish that the applicant has in fact adopted the new name.

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4.In the present case, the petitioner has produced the Gazette notification of the Government of Tamil Nadu along with two public documents, namely, the Aadhaar Card and PAN Card. 5.The learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent submits that the petitioner's application for change of name is under process.

6.In view of the above, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent to process the petitioner's application for change of name, taking into consideration the Gazette notification, Aadhaar Card and PAN Card, and to reissue the passport accordingly within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

01.04.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes skn 3/4

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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