IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY ,THE SEVENTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 12129 OF 2025 Between: Mathi Venkata Bhanu Kiran, S/o. Govinda Rajulu, aged about 36 years, Occ Employee, R/o. D.No. 39-9-14/3, Tenneti Veedhi, Madhavadhara, Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District. ...PETITIONER AND .. ' • J 1. The Union Of India Ministry/ Of External Affairs, represented by Secretary, New Delhi. 2. The Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam, near PF Office, Beside Rythu Bazar, Marripalem, VUDA Layout, NAD Post, Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature in WRIT of MANDAMUS to declaring the action of the 2nd Respondent in not processing to issue fresh passport made vide !' / application reference No. VS1077483916525, dt. 13-03-2025 as illegal, Arbitrary and Unconstitutional and consequently direct the Respondents to process my application dt. 13-03-2025 for issuance of passport vide application reference No.VSI077483916525, dt. 13-03-2025 as otherwise I sy|fer irreparable loss and damage. / lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to direct the Respondents to process my application dt. 13-03-2025 for issuance of passport vide application reference No.VSI077483916525, dt. 13-03-2025 pending disposal of the facts and circumstances of case to meet the ends of justice. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI. REDDY VENKATA RAMANA Counsel for the Respondent Np.l : SRI PASALA PONNA RAO, DEPY. SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA Counsel for the Respondent No.2: None appeared The Court made the following Order: / APHC010230832025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3331] WEDNESDAY ,THE SEVENTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 12129/2025 Between: ...PETITIONER Mathi Venkata Bhanu Kiran AND ...RESPONDENT(S) The Union Of India Ministry Of External Affairs and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: f:REDDY VENKATA RAM AN A Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. The Court made the following ORDER: Heard Sri Reddy Venkata Ramana, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt.P.Vijaya Kumari, learned counsel for respondents 1 and 2. nd The above writ petition is filed to declare the action of the 2 respondent in not issuing/renewing the passport to the petitioner in pursuance of the application reference N0.VSI077483916525, dated 13.03.2025, is illegal and arbitrary. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner possessed a passport bearing No.M2109125, and expired on 12.09.2021. The petitioner submitted an application for renewal/reissuance of passport vide Application N0.VSI073339868121 on 22.11.2024, which was returned with 3. / 2 certain objections. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted another application - vide N0.VSI0774839162525, dated 13.03.2025, which is pending. A shortfall notice dated 14.03.2025 was issued to the petitioner due to an adverse police verification report. Learned counsel submits that the mere pendency of a criminal case is no ground for not renewing or reissuing a passport. Learned counsel for respondents 1 and 2, on the other hand, submits that a case in Crime No. 197/2018 of Mahila Police Station, Visakhapatnam, was registered against the petitioner and others. The petitioner is shown as Accused N0.I. The police filed a final report on the file of the Jurisdictionat court, and the same was numbered C.C.No. 1010/2019 on the file of I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner must approach the jurisdictional court. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner will approach the jurisdictional Court and make C.C.no.1010/2019. 4. 5. an application in 6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, the writ petition is disposed of, at the admission stage with the consent of learned counsel on either side, granting liberty to the petitioner to make an application in C.C. No. 1010/2019 on the file of the learned I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam. Upon such application being filed by the petitioner, the learned Magistrate shall consider the same and pass appropriate ordei-o mentioning the period, as per Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980. There shall be no order as to costs. by As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. SO/- N.NAGAMMA ASSISTANT REGISTRAR SECTiqfl^FfCER //TRUE COPY// To, 1. The Secretary, Union of India Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. 2. The Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam, near PF Office, Beside Rythu Bazar, Marripalem, VUDA Layout, NAD Post, Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District. 3. One CC to Sri. Reddy Venkata Ramana, Advocate [OPUC] 4. One CC to Sri. Pasala Ponna Rao, Deputy Solicitor General of India. [OPUC] i 5. Three CD Copies HIGH COURT DATED :07/05/2025 ORDER WP.No.12129 of 2025 o //o ov 3 0 MAY 2125 m 'O Osh ★ DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION AT THE ADMISSION STAGE WITHOUT COSTS , i