Vigneshram v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.04.2026

CORAM

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

1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veedhi, Madurai.

2.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Inspector of Police, Bazaar Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioner's passport application bearing No. MD1077146380724 dated 25.11.2024 and consequently, re-issue the passport to the petitioner within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner :Mr.R.Niresh Kumar For R1 :Mr.A.Devarajan Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 :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 directing the first respondent to re-issue a passport based on his application in File No. MD1077146380724 dated 25.11.2024

2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, though an application has been submitted for re-issuance of a passport, the same has not been processed by the first respondent. According to the petitioner, the application has been kept pending on the ground that a criminal case has been registered against him.

3. Mr. M. Vaikkam Karunanithi, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the second respondent, on instructions, submitted that a criminal case has been registered against the petitioner in Cr.No.49 of 2025.

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4. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. The refusal to issue or renew a passport is governed by the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967. Under Section 6 of the Act, the Passport Authority is empowered to refuse issuance or renewal of a passport only in the circumstances specifically enumerated therein. One such ground is where proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the applicant are pending before a criminal court in India.

6. In the present case, the only reason cited by the respondents is the registration of an FIR against the petitioner. However, mere registration of an FIR does not fall within the grounds contemplated under Section 6 of the Act. The statutory bar arises only when criminal proceedings are pending before a competent criminal court. 3/6

7. Therefore, the action of the first respondent in withholding the petitioner's application solely on the basis of the registration of an FIR is not in consonance with the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967.

8. In view of the above, this Court finds merit in the petitioner's contention.

9. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed and the first respondent is directed to process the petitioner's application for issuance of a fresh passport bearing File No. MD1077146380724 dated 25.11.2024 and issue the passport, subject to the petitioner satisfying all other eligibility criteria prescribed under law.

12. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four

(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

13. No costs.

Index :Yes / No 08.04.2026 NCC :Yes / No cmr 4/6

To The Inspector of Police, Bazaar Police Station, Virudhunagar District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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