Sridhar v. The Regional Passport Officer
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.06.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Sridhar ... Petitioner vs.
1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Street, Race Course Road, Madurai.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul.
3.The Inspector of Police, Oddanchatram Police Station, Dindigul District.
4.The Inspector of Police, Palani Adivaram Police Station, Dindigul District.
5.The Inspector of Police, Palani Town Police Station, Dindigul District.
... Respondents 1/6
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 passport to the petitioner based on the petitioner's application dated 24.11.2025.
For Petitioner :Mr.K.G.Arunkumar For R1 :Mr.V.B.Sundareshwar Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 to R4 :Mr.R.Mohamed Riyaz, 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 issue the passport based upon his application dated 24.11.2025.
2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, though an application has been submitted for issuance of a fresh 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 criminal cases have been registered against him.
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3. Mr. R.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondents 2 to 4, on instructions, submitted that five criminal cases have been registered against the petitioner and in respect of two criminal cases, after investigation, closure reports have been filed and in respect of other three cases, the investigations are pending.
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.
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6. In the present case, the only reason cited by the respondents is the registration of FIRs against the petitioner. However, mere registration of FIRs 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.
7. Therefore, the action of the first respondent in withholding the petitioner's application solely on the basis of the registration of FIRs 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 dated 24.11.2025 and issue the passport, subject to the petitioner satisfying all other eligibility criteria prescribed under law. 4/6
10.The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four
(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 11.There shall be no order as to costs.
Index :Yes / No 11.06.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr To 1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Street, Race Course Road, Madurai.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Dindigul.
3.The Inspector of Police, Oddanchatram Police Station, Dindigul District.
4.The Inspector of Police, Palani Adivaram Police Station, Dindigul District.
5.The Inspector of Police, Palani Town Police Station, Dindigul District.
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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.
cmr 11.06.2026 6/6