R.Bharathi Selvan v. The Regional Passport Officer
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN and W.M.P.(MD) No.14150 of 2025 R.Bharathi Selvan ... Petitioner Vs
1. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Tiruchirappalli New Municipal Complex, Thillai Nagar 7th Cross, Tiruchirappalli - 620018.
2. The Inspector of Police, Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thanjavur Town South Police Station, Thanjavur 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 pertaining to the impugned notice issued by the first respondent, dated 19.03.2025 and quash 1/6
the same as illegal and consequently, direct the first respondent to return the petitioner's passport as a valid Passport within the time stipulated by this Court. For petitioner : Mr. S.Ramakrishnan For respondents : Mr.V.B.Sundhareshwar Central Government Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.K.Sanjai Gandhi Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R2 & R3 *****
ORDER
This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Central Government Standing Counsel for the first respondent and learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the respondents 2 and 3.
2. The petitioner appears to be a senior citizen aged about 68 years, who has been proceeded by the respondents 2 and 3 for various offences in at lease five difference cases under the provisions of IPC and now under the provisions of BNS, as detailed below:
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S.No Crime Number Offences Police Station 1.
Sections 189(2), 126(2) of BNS Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District 2.
Sections 143, 188, 285, 269 and 270 of IPC Thanjavur Town South Police Station, Thanjavur District 3.
Sections 143, 285, 269, 270, 271 of IPC and Section ED Act, 1897 and 51(b) of DM Act, 2005 Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District 4.
Sections 143 & 270 of IPC Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District 5.
Sections 143, 341 and 270 of IPC Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District
3. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the second respondent submits that in respect of the first and second cases mentioned above, the charge sheet has been filed on 06.07.2025 before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Mannarkudi and learned Judicial Magistrate-I, Thanjavur, respectively.
4. Considering the fact that the cases are now pending before the concerned 3/6
Court, there cannot be a positive direction for quashing the impounding of the passport, vide order, dated 19.03.2025. However, it is open for the petitioner to move suitable application before the respective Courts for retrieving the passport, if no serious case is made out against the petitioner in Crime No.794/24 and Crime No.262/22, in respect of which the respective charge sheets have been filed on 06.07.2025, before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Mannarkudi and before the learned Judicial Magistrate-I, Thanjavur, respectively, for the offences specified therein.
5. This Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Index : Yes / No 08.07.2025 Internet : Yes / No apd To
1. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Tiruchirappalli New Municipal Complex, Thillai Nagar 7th Cross, Tiruchirappalli - 620018.
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2. The Inspector of Police, Mannargudi Town Police Station, Thiruvarur District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thanjavur Town South Police Station, Thanjavur District.
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C.SARAVANAN, J.
apd 08.07.2025 6/6