Veerachamy C v. The Chief Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 25.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR C.Veerachamy ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Chief Passport Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi.

2.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai - 625 002.

3.The Inspector of Police, Town North Police Station, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 2nd respondent to issue passport to the petitioner in Application No. MD1065410257425, dated 29.07.2025 within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner :Mr.Belco S.Meltiue For R1 and R2 :Mr.K.Maharajan Central Government Standing Counsel For R3 :Mr.M.Vaikkam Karunanithi Government Advocate (crl.side) *****

O R D E R

The petitioner is before this Court seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the 2nd respondent to issue passport to the petitioner in Application No. MD1065410257425, dated 29.07.2025 within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

2. The petitioner's request for issuance of a passport has not been processed on the ground that a criminal is pending against the petitioner and a charge sheet has been filed before the Judicial Magistrate Court-II, Dindigul, in C.C.No.32 of 2022.

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 passport should be treated in the same manner as the issuance of a fresh 2/5

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 cases are 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. No costs.

Index :Yes / No 25.03.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr 3/5

To The Inspector of Police, Town North Police Station, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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