APHC010322312025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3331] THURSDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 16151/2025 Between: 1. VENKATA SATISH KUMAR PONNADA, , S/O SATYA RAO PONNADA, AGED 52 YEARS, EX.M.L.A., R/O D.NO. 3-4-88, R.K.TOWERS 1ST FLOOR, COLLEGE ROAD, AMALAPURAM, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT-533201. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE UNION GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, REP. BY IT'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, NEW DELHI. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, VISAKHAPATNAM, NEAR PF.OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, MARRIPALEM, VUDA LAY OUT, NAD POST, VISAKHAPATNAM-530009. 3. THE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, -MCC NODAL OFFICER, 43- MUMMIDIVARAM ASSEMBLY CONSISTENCY, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): 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 a writ, order or direction more in the nature of Mandamus declaring the action respondents particularly the 2nd respondent in refusal to Renewal vide the Letter Ref SCN/1049252144/25, dated 02-06-2025 vide File No. VS9077186275924 of the 2st respondent in not Renewed my Passport K 9233516 dated 28-12-2012 on the ground the Criminal Case vide Crime. Page 2 of 4 SRS,J W.P.No.16151 of 2025 Nol58/2024 at Mummidivaram PS subsequently its numbered as C.C. No. 29/2024 on the file of the Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, East Godavari District, Registered under section 188, R/W 34 IPC is illegal. arbitrary, violation of Principals of Natural Justice, violation Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of India and consequently to direct the 2nd respondent to Renew my Passport bearing K 9233516 dated 28-12-2012 forthwith as I having Passport bearing No. K 9233516 for 10 years and pass 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 2nd respondent Renew my Passport bearing J0918857 forthwith of the Petitioner for a period of Ten Years without referring to the pendency of Criminal Cases pending disposal of the above writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. K VENKATA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. The Court made the following: :: ORDER :: Heard Sri Simhadri, learned counsel representing Sri K. Venkata Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M. Srinivas, learned Standing Counsel, appeared for respondents 1 & 2 and Sri Y. Koteswsara Rao, learned counsel, appeared for respondent No.3. 2. The petitioner made an application, vide File No.VS9077186275924 for renewal of passport before the respondent No.2. A short-fall notice dated 02.06.2025 was issued to the petitioner, due to an adverse police verification report pointing out the pendency of a criminal case in C.C.No.29 of 2024 on the file of the learned II AJFM, Court, Mummidivaram, against the petitioner. Page 3 of 4 SRS,J W.P.No.16151 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that mere pendency of a criminal case is no bar to the issuance of the passport. 4. Learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondents 1 & 2 would submit that the jurisdictional Court has taken cognisance and the petitioner has to approach the jurisdictional Court and make a proper application. 5. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner will make an appropriate application before the jurisdictional Court in the pending criminal case. 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 make an application before the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, Mummdivaram. If such an application is filed, the learned jurisdictional Magistrate shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders, keeping in view Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980. No order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI Date : 03.07.2025 TVN SRS,J W.P.No.16151 of 2025 156 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION No.16151 OF 2025 Date : 03.07.2025 TVN