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Madras High CourtWP(MD)/22513/2025disposed of

Velmurugan v. The Regional Passport Office

2025-08-19Honourable Mr Justice C. Saravanan6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 19.08.2025

CORAM

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

1. The Regional Passport Office, Madurai Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai 625002, Tamil Nadu.

2.The Superintendent Enquiry officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai 625002 Tamilnadu.

3.The Inspector of Police, Bazaar Police Station, Ramanathapuram District.

...Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, direct the respondents 1 and 2 to renewal the petitioner's passport on his file No.MDA075015874725 dated 08.05.2025 based on his reply dated 28.07.2025. 1/6

For Petitioner : Mr.C.Susikumar For R1 & R2 : Mr.P.Santhosh Kumar Central Government Standing Counsel For R3 : Mr.Vaikam Karunanidhi Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to renewal the petitioner's passport on his file No.MDA075015874725 dated 08.05.2025 based on his reply dated 28.07.2025.

2. The petitioner has also received a communication from the first respondent seeking for certain clarification regarding the case pending against the petitioner in Crime No.77 of 2025 dated 30.03.2025 before the third respondent for the offences under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(B) of NDPS Act.

3. The learned Government Advocate for the second respondent submits that the petitioner was earlier involved in Crime No.324 of 2010 for the offences under Section 348, 506(1) of the IPC @ 294(b), 506(1) of the IPC and charge 2/6

sheet has been filed and taken on file in S.T.C.No.315 of 2011 before the Judicial Magistrate-II, Ramanathapuram and that the petitioner was acquitted by an order dated 18.12.2015.

4. It is submitted that as far as FIR in Crime No.77 of 2025 dated 30.03.2025 before the third respondent police station is concerned, the case is still under investigation.

5. Considering the same, there can be no impediment in directing the first respondent to process the petitioner's passport application.

6. Accordingly, the first respondent is directed to process the passport application of the petitioner and issue passport to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of 6 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. It is also made clear that in case charge sheet is filed and taken on file against the petitioner, the petitioner shall voluntarily surrender the passport before the concerned court and retrieve the same as and when the petitioner proposes to travel abroad by filing appropriate application. If the petitioner fails 3/6

to comply with this condition, the first respondent is at liberty to cancel the passport.

8.The writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. 19.08.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No sn To

1. The Regional Passport Office, Madurai Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai 625002, Tamil Nadu.

2.The Superintendent Enquiry officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai 625002 Tamilnadu.

3.The Inspector of Police, Bazaar Police Station, Ramanathapuram District.

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C.SARAVANAN, J.

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