Sathish Kumar v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 08.01.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI and W.M.P.(MD)No.14115 of 2024 Sathish Kumar ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Regional Passport Officer, Madurai, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai District 625 002.

2.Manimegalai ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned notice in Letter Ref No. SCN/317140863/24 dated 22.02.2024 and the subsequent impugned notice in Letter Ref.No. SCN/318087199/24 dated 29.05.2024 on the file of the respondent no. 1 and quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the respondent no. 1 to liberate the petitioners Passport bearing N5395711 dated 03.12.2015 within a time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Louis For R-1 : Mr.P.Sundaravadivel, Central Government Standing Counsel For R-2 : Mr.A.Balaji ***** 1/4

ORDER

Heard the learned counsels on either sides and carefully perused the materials available on record.

2.Challenging the impugned notice of the 1st respondent dated 29.05.2024 requiring the petitioner to deliver his passport and the subsequent clarification letter of the 1st respondent dated 22.02.2024, this writ petition is filed.

3.The petitioner and the 2nd respondent are the estranged husband and wife, and on the instance of the 2nd respondent criminal cases came to be registered as against the petitioner. The matter was earlier referred to Mediation. The 2nd respondent and the petitioner appeared before the Mediation center for Mediation and Conciliation on 19.12.2024 and have arrived at an amicable settlement wherein their indifferences were brushed aside, and a settlement has also been arrived at between the petitioner and the 2nd respondent and the Mediation report is also forwarded before this Court today. Both the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the 2nd respondent conceded that the matter is settled amicably, and it is not necessary to impound the passport of the petitioner anymore. 2/4

4.Recording the same, the clarification letter dated 22.09.2024 is hereby set aside. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that a crime in Crime No.21 of 2022 has been filed as against the petitioner by the Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Aruppukkottai, for the offences under Section 494, 406, 420, 468, 471 and 506(1) IPC at the instance of the 2nd respondent. Since the matter has already been settled, there won't be any impediment for the 1st respondent to permit the petitioner to travel without any hindrance.

5.With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 08.01.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes Sml To The Regional Passport Officer, Madurai, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai District 625 002.

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L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

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