-'4 APHC010295042025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 14806 OF 2025 Between: Behara Bhargav Patro, S/o. Venkataramana Patro, Aged 22 years Student, R/o. D.No.45-2-60/1/5, Ramachandra Nagar, Near K.V. School, Akkayapalem, Visakhapatnam-530016. ...Petitioner AND 1. The Union of India, Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Room No. 8 Patiala House, Tilak Marg New Delhi - 110001, Represented by its Chief Pass Port Officer (CPO)/Secretary. 2. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport office, ... Visakhapatnam, Near P.F.Office, Beside Rythu Bazar, Marripalem, Vuda layout, NAD Post, Visakhapatnam, 530009. 3. Assistant Passport Officer, Passport Office Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District. -4„ The Station House Officer, III Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam City, 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 themature of writ of mandamus declaring the impugned action of the 2ND ancf Respondents in not issuing passport to the petitioner by acting upon the petitioner application for passport vide file no.VSI 066871466924, dt.22-08- 2024 on the ground that a case in CC No. 198/2024 on the file of IV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Visakhapatnam in connection with crime in Cr No.37/2024 on the file of III Town PS, Visakhapatnam City., as illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents to issue passport to the petitioner. IA 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 to direct the respondents to consider the petitioner application for passport vide file no.VSI066871466924, dt.22-08-2024 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law., pending disposal of the writ petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: G Venkata REDDY Counsel for the Respondent Nos. I to 3: SRI G VENKATESWARLU, SC FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ANb ADDITIONAL SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA Counsel for the Respondent No. 4: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following order: APHC010295042025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) loWv- [3331] TUESDAY, THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 14806/2025 Between: ...PETITIONER Behara Bhargav Patro AND ...RESPONDENT(S) The Union Of India and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.G VENKATA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR HOME 2, The Court made the following: :: ORDER:: Heard Sri G. Venkata Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri Gunduboina Venkateswarlu, learned panel counsel, appeared for respondents 1 to 3 and Sri Ajay, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, appeared for respondent No.4. The petitioner made an application for the issuance of a passport vide No.VSI066871466924, dated 22.08.2024 (Ex.P1). Respondent No.2 issued a short-fall notice dated 16.10.2024 to the petitioner, due to an adverse police verification report. i \ 2. I SRS.J ^ W.P No.14806 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit appeared before respondent No.2 and admitted to the pendency of case. However, would also submit that mere pendency of a criminal case bar to denying the travel document. that the petitioner a criminal IS no 4. Sri Gunduboina Venkateswarlu, learned panel learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, would submit that a criminal case vide C.C.No.198 of 2024 on the file of the learned IV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam, arising out of Cr.No.37 of 2024 of Visakhapatnam III Town Police Station, is pending against the petitioner. The learned jurisdictional Magistrate has taken cognisance of the aforementioned criminal case, and the petitioner has to approach the same Court and make an appropriate application. counsel and Sri Ajay 5. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner will make an appropriate application before the jurisdictional Court. 6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, without touching the merits of the matter, the Writ Petition is disposed of, at the stage of admission with the consent of both the learned counsel giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the learned IV Additional Chief Metropolitan Visakhapatnam, where the criminal Magistrate, case vide C.C.No.198 of 2024 is pending and make appropriate application for issuance of passport. If such is filed, the learned Jurisdictional Magistrate shall an consider the same and pass appropriate orders, keeping given Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980. No order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. Sd/- N NAGAMMA ASSISTANT^ISTRAR SECTION OFFICER 1 - The Chief Pass Port Officer (CPO)/Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Union of India, Room No. 8 Patiala House, Tilak Marg New Delhi - 110001. //TRUE COPY// /t: I To, I iW. 2. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport office, Visakhapatnam, Near P.F.Office, Beside Rythu Bazar, Marripalem, Vuda layout, NAD Post, Visakhapatnam, 530009. Assistant Passport Officer, Passport Office Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District. The Station House Officer, III Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam City, Visakhapatnam District. One CC to Sri. G Venkata Reddy Advocate [OPUC] One CC to Additional Solicitor General of India [OPUC] One CC to Sri G Venkateswarl^SC for Central Government [OPUC] Two CCs to GP for Home, High Court of Andhra Pradesh [OUT] Three CD Copies GSC 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. HIGH COURT DATE0:24/06/2025 \ ORDER WP 14806/2025 (T X- 0^ /'>■ :V ‘-Sf c> ■<1. < DISPOSING THE WP WITHOUT COSTS '•■S