James v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 04.08.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN James ... Petitioner Vs

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

2. The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Inspector of Police, Puliyankudi Police Station, Tenkasi District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the first respondent to issue a passport to petitioner on the basis of petitioner's passport application in File No.MD2077528052925, dated 02.04.2025 as expeditiously as possible. For petitioner : Mr. S.Micheal Heldon Kumar 1/4

For respondents : Mr.B.Sathesh Kumar Central Government Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.K.Sanjai Gandhi Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R2 *****

ORDER

This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Central Government Standing Counsel for the first respondent and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the second respondent.

2. This Writ Petition has been filed for a Mandamus to direct the first respondent to issue a passport to petitioner on the basis of petitioner's passport application in File No.MD2077528052925, dated 02.04.2025.

3. It is noticed that the petitioner was involved in at least two criminal cases in respect of which at least in one case, charge sheet has been filed and the case is pending before the Judicial Magistrate, Sivagiri. Details of the cases read as under:

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S.No.

Crime Number & offences Stage 1.

Crime No.286/2021 on the file of the Puliangudi Police Station for the offences under Section 379 IPC Pending in P.R.C.No/35 of 2025 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Sivagiri 2.

Crime No.145/2017 on the file of the Thattaparai Police Station for the offences under Sections 406, 467, 468, 471 and 420 IPC Under investigation.

4. Considering the same, there can be no positive direction to the first respondent to process the passport application of the petitioner. However, liberty is given to the petitioner to move an appropriate application at appropriate time for appropriate orders for the first respondent to process the passport application, as and when the petitioner proposes to travel abroad from the concerned Court.

5. In case such application is filed, the concerned Court may pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible for the petitioner to move the papers for processing the passport application before the first respondent.

6. This Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observations. No costs. Index : Yes / No 04.08.2025 Internet : Yes / No apd 3/4

C.SARAVANAN, J.

apd To

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

2. The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Inspector of Police, Puliyankudi Police Station, Tenkasi District.

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