Gopal Kurupatham v. The Regional Passport Officer,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 05.01.2024

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI Gopal Kurupatham ... Petitioner versus

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

2. The Inspector of Police, Tisaiyanvilai Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent to reissue the petitioner's passport in Passport No.S1981185 dated 05.06.2018 within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Sivasubramanian 1/4

For R1 : Mr.K.Prabhu Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 : Mr.Vaikkam Karunanithi, Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

ORDER

The petitioner was issued with a passport No.G7087148. Since it had expired on 14.02.2018, he applied for re-issuance of a new passport before the first respondent. On 05.06.2018, the petitioner was issued with a new passport No.S1981185. While so, on 08.06.2018, the first respondent has issued a show cause notice calling upon him to explain as to why his passport should not be impounded, as he was involved in a criminal case and the same was charge sheeted as PRC No.55 of 2015 on the file of the District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Nanguneri. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner has filed this writ petition for a Mandamus, directing the first respondent to re-issue his passport No.S1981185 within a stipulated time.

2. Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the charge sheet filed 2/4

against the petitioner in PRC No.55 of 2015 was quashed by this Court in Crl.O.P.(MD)No.5888 of 2018, by order dated 10.03.2020. He has also produced a copy of the order before this Court.

3. The learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent submits that pursuant to the order of this Court passed in Crl.O.P.(MD)No.5888 of 2015 dated 10.03.2020, the passport was returned to the petitioner on 08.01.2023.

4. Recording the submission of the learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent, this writ petition is closed. No costs.

05.01.2024 ogy NCC : Yes / No.

Index : Yes / No.

Internet : Yes / No.

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B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ogy To

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

2. The Inspector of Police, Tisaiyanvilai Police Station, Tirunelveli District.

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