Murugan Rajendran v. The Regional Passport Officer (Madurai),

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 05.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR W.P(MD) No. 14979 of 2026 Murugan Rajendran .. Petitioner - Vs. -

1. The Regional Passport Officer(Madurai), Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veedhi, Race Course Road, Madurai-625 002, Tamil Nadu.

2. The Inspector of Police, B1 Melur Police Station, Madurai District.

.. Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to issue the passport to the petitioner based on his application No.MD1076317183526 dated 30.01.2026 within the stipulated time as may be fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner(s) : Mr.M.Alexanderdevanesan For Respondent(s) : Mr.S.Anbu Hariharan, Central Government Standing Counsel for R1 : Mr.R.Mohamed Riyaz, Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R2

ORDER

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 the petitioner's application bearing Application No.MD1076317183526 dated 30.01.2026.

2. The petitioner's request for issuance of a passport has not been processed on the ground that a criminal case is pending against the petitioner before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Melur, in C.C.No.767 of 2025.

3. The Hon'ble Full Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No. 26547 of 2025, while answering a reference as to whether the re-issue/renewal of a 2/6

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 re-issue/renewal of a passport must be treated 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, as contemplated under the Passport Act, 1967.

4. In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional Court, where the criminal case is pending, and file an appropriate application seeking permission for issuance/renewal of the passport. If such an application is filed, the criminal Court concerned shall consider and pass appropriate orders within a period of four weeks from the date of filing of the application. In the event of trial Court granted permission to the petitioner for renewing the passport, the first respondent shall process the application of the petitioner and pass appropriate orders on merits in accordance with law within a period of three (3) weeks from the date of fresh application submitted by the petitioner. 3/6

5. There shall be no order as to costs.

05.06.2026 Index :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No PJL To

1. The Regional Passport Officer(Madurai), Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veedhi, Race Course Road, Madurai-625 002, Tamil Nadu.

2. The Inspector of Police, B1 Melur Police Station, Madurai District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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