S.Nagarajacholan v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 19.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR S.Nagarajacholan ... Petitioner vs.

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

2.The State of Tamil Nadu, The Inspector of Police, Thiruvegampathur Police Station, Sivagangai 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 issue additional pages in passport No. Z6445840 by processing the petitioner's application in File No. MD1077574026525 dated 25.04.2025 within the time stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner :Mr.Ananthapadmanabhan Senior Counsel for Mr.K.Dinesh For R1 :Mr.R.Senthil Kumar Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 :Mr.R.Mohamed Riyaz Government Advocate (crl.side) *****

O R D E R

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a direction to the first respondent to re-issue his passport bearing No. Z6445840 with additional pages by processing his application in File No. MD1077574026525 dated 25.04.2025.

2.The petitioner states that he was issued Passport No. Z6445840, which is valid up to the year 2032. Since all the pages in the passport have been exhausted, he submitted an application seeking re-issuance of the passport with additional pages. However, the application has not been processed on the ground that the petitioner is allegedly holding a dual passport.

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3.The learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent submitted that holding a dual passport is an offence under Section 12(1)(b) of the Passports Act, 1967, and therefore the petitioner is not entitled to the relief sought. 4.The refusal to issue or re-issue a passport is governed by Section 6 of the Passports Act, 1967. Holding a dual passport is not one of the grounds specified under Section 6 for refusing re-issuance of a passport. If the petitioner is in fact holding a dual passport, it is always open to the first respondent to impound the passport under Section 10(3) of the Act and also initiate appropriate criminal proceedings against the petitioner. However, on that ground alone, the petitioner cannot be denied reissuance of the passport with additional pages. 5.

Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider the petitioner's application in File No. MD1077574026525 dated 25.04.2025 and re-issue the passport with additional pages, subject to the petitioner satisfying all other applicable requirements.

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6.The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7.Liberty is reserved to the first respondent to take such action against the petitioner, in accordance with law, as may be warranted in relation to the allegation that the petitioner is holding a dual passport. 8.There shall be no order as to costs.

Index :Yes / No 19.06.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr To The Inspector of Police, Thiruvegampathur Police Station, Sivagangai District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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