Manikandan v. The Regional Passport Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.12.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Manikandan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Regional Passport Officer, The Regional Passport Office, Triuchirappalli, Municipal Water Tank Building, Trichy.

2.The Passport Officer, Passport Seva Kendra, New No.201/7D, Old No.201/7, Medical College Road, Next to Kumaran Cinema Theater, Thajuavur.

3.The Inspector of Police, Thiruvonam Police Station, Thanjavur District.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to issue fresh passport for a period of minimum validity of 1/6

10 years in the file No.TR1063849846321 dated 30.12.2021 to the petitioner within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.D.R.Murugesan For Respondents : Mr.G.Rajaraman for R1 & R2. Mr.A.Albert James, Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) for R3.

ORDER

Heard both sides.

2.The petitioner seeks issuance of passport. He has submitted an application before the jurisdictional passport officer. Apprehending that it may not be processed in view of his involvement in a criminal case, the present writ petition came to be filed.

3.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) submitted that the criminal case registered against the petitioner is pending at the FIR stage. 2/6

4.It is well settled that when the case is pending only at the FIR stage, there is no impediment for the Regional Passport Officer to grant relief.

5.The petitioner has to appear before the jurisdictional police and file an affidavit indicating his contact details. The petitioner apart from furnishing his residential address must also give his WhatsApp mobile number, e-mail ID. This is because, if any adverse final report is filed and the same is also taken on file by the jurisdictional criminal court, it should be possible to serve summons on the petitioner with the available details. The petitioner shall give an undertaking that the prosecution initiated against him will not be stalled on account of his absence from India. He should undertake that summons can be served on him through E-mail/WhatsApp. If necessary, the petitioner will have to execute a special vakalat in future so that he can be represented by his counsel in the proceedings in terms of Section 205 of Cr.P.C. 6.Upon the passport authority being satisfied that such an undertaking affidavit has been filed before the jurisdictional police, the 3/6

jurisdictional Regional Passport Officer shall process the petitionmentioned application and issue passport subject to fulfilment of the other usual formalities.

7.This writ petition is disposed of on these terms. No costs. 18.12.2023 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:- The Inspector of Police, Thiruvonam Police Station, Thanjavur District.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

ias 18.12.2023 6/6