Anwar Ali A v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 24.08.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and W.M.P.(MD)No.14181 of 2022 A.Anwar Ali ... Petitioner Vs.

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

2.The Inspector of Police, Q Branch CID Police Station, Madurai.

3.The Inspector of Police, Q Branch CID Police Station, Karur District, Camp Office at Sivagangai.

... 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 order passed in Letter Ref.No.IMP/309471281/19 by the 1st respondent dated 11.12.2019 and quash the same and subsequently direct the 1st respondent to reissue the petitioner's passport bearing number T2175861 within the time stipulated by this Court. 1/4

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Thamimul Ansari For R1 : Mr.S.Sivakumar For R2 : Mr.M.Prakash Additional Government Pleader For R3 : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel on either side.

2. Even before commencing the argument, the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner on instructions states that he would not question the impounding of the passport and that he would be satisfied, if the first respondent concludes the enquiry at the earliest.

3. The petitioner is an Indian citizen and holder of the passport. He had obtained passport bearing No. L5475539 in the year 2013. Later, he applied and obtained passport bearing No.N9600109 in the year 2016. The petitioner claims to have lost the second passport and he obtained the petition mentioned passport in the year 2019. He went abroad. The petitioner's travel agent was implicated in Crime No.1 of 2019 on the file of the Q-Branch, CID Police Station, Madurai. That in fact lead to impounding of the writ petitioner's passport.

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4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the Q-Branch states that they had already given a report to the jurisdictional Magistrate. Before me, submission that has been made is that while the petitioner is not involved in Crime No.1 of 2019, they have a nagging suspicion that he had suppressed the obtaining of the second passport.

5. The first respondent is directed to obtain the verification report at the earliest and consider the petitioner's request for re-issuance of passport on merits and in accordance with law. The entire exercise shall be concluded within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

24.08.2022 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No rmi To 1.The Inspector of Police, Q Branch CID Police Station, Madurai.

2.The Inspector of Police, Q Branch CID Police Station, Karur District, Camp Office at Sivagangai.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

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