- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:18210 WP No. 13841 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF MAY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE M G UMA WRIT PETITION NO. 13841 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SIDDHARTH KUMAR GUPTA, S/O. SANJAY KUMAR GUPTA, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, RESIDING AT 201, SALBYA SAFFRON ST, BED LAYOUT, CAUVERY COLONY, 1ST BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560 034. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ABHINAY S, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. GURURAJ MAMDY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SHRI LAKSHMI NARAIN, SO(DB), 74B SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110 001. 2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560 095, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHANTHI BHUSHAN H, DSGI) Digitally signed by SWAPNA V Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:18210 WP No. 13841 of 2025 THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE DIRECTION OF THE RESPONDENT NO, 2 DIRECTING THE PETITIONER TO FURNISH PROOF OF CLEARANCE OF THE CASE LATTER DATED 25.04.2025 (ANNEXURE-A) AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE M G UMA ORAL ORDER Heard learned counsel Sri.Abhinay S, for Sri. Gururaj Mamdy for the petitioner and Sri.Shanthi Bhusan H, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India for respondents. 2. Learned Deputy Solicitor General of India for respondents produced the copy of the order dated 11.03.2025 passed in W.P.No.280/2025 by the coordinate bench of this court and submits that similar question was raised in the said writ petition and a detailed order has been passed. Hence, he submits that the present writ petition can be disposed off with similar conditions. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:18210 WP No. 13841 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has no objection for imposing such conditions for allowing the writ petition. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following: O R D E R (i) The writ petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to approach the criminal court in C.C.No.5541/2022 seeking issuance of a short validity passport, upon which the court shall consider such request strictly in accordance with the Act, Notification No.GSR-570E dated 25.08.1993. (iii) On receipt of the request and production of necessary materials, the court is directed to consider the application of the petitioner expeditiously. (iv) The court shall not reject the application / permission for issuance of a short validity passport only on the ground of pendency of the criminal case before it. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:18210 WP No. 13841 of 2025 (v) The petitioner, in the application, shall clearly indicate the reason and the details of the itinerary. Sd/- (M G UMA) JUDGE SS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 51 CT: BHK