Kannan Raju v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR and W.M.P.(MD)No.11908 of 2026 Kannan Raju ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, New Municipal Complex, Thillainagar, 7th Cross, Tiruchirappalli 620 018.

2.The Inspector of Police, Thogamalai Police Station, Karur District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the proceedings in letter Ref.No.OBJ/1055265563/26 dated 02.06.2026 issued by the 1st respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the 1st respondent to consider and process the 1/5

petitioner's application for re-issue of passport bearing File No.TR2076792403626 and issue passport to the petitioner in accordance with law within a time frame fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :Mr.A.Thiagarajan For R1 :Mr.P.Santhoshkumar, Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 :Mr.R.Mohamed Riyaz Government Advocate (Crl.side) *****

O R D E R

The petitioner challenging the impugned order passed by the first respondent, dated 02.06.2026 and for a direction to direct the first respondent to re-issue a passport to the petitioner based on the petitioner's application bearing File No.TR2076792403626.

2. The petitioner's request for issuance of a passport has not been considered on the ground that a criminal case is pending against the petitioner before the Judicial Magistrate Court No.I, Kuzhithurai, in C.C. No. 24 of 2024.

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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 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 case is 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 one week from the date of filing of the application.

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5.There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

Index :Yes / No 12.06.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr To The Inspector of Police, Thogamalai Police Station, Karur District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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