IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 30694 OF 2024 Between: 1. Nikethana Katamreddy, W/o Katamreddy Karthik Reddy, aged 39 years occ. Housewife, r/o Flat No. 401 Sai Krupa Elite, Hanuman Junction Kaveri Nagar Iscon City, Nellore, SPSR Nellore District. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, rep. by its Secretary Ministry of External Affairs South Block Secretariat, Raising Hills, New Delhi. 2. The Regional Passport Officer, Office of the Regional Passport Office Stalin Centre, D.No. 2737158, Governorpet, MG Road, Vijayawada. ...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 of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the 2"^ respondent in renewing the passport of the petitioner bearing No. L7867607 duly correcting the date of Birth, surname and name of my husband pursuant to the application dt. 31-5-2023 inspite of her personal visits, as being illegal, arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional consequently direct the 2nd respondent herein to renew/re-issue the passport duly making necessary correction in terms of the applicatioin dt.31-5-2023, and to grant such other relief and lA NO: 1 OF 2024 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 2nd respondent herein and take appropriate action pursuant to the application dt.31-5-2023 submitted by the petitioner, pending disposal of the main Writ Petition, in the interest of justice to consider Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI SRINIVASA RAO KURAPATI Counsel for the Respondents: VENNA HEMANTH KUMAR (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) The Court made the following: Order % APHC010576262024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] MONDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 30694/2024 Between: Nikethana Katamreddy ...PETITIONER AND Union Of India and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.SRINIVASA RAO KURAPATI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.VENNA HEMANTH KUMAR(CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) The Court made the following: \ ORDER: This writ petition is filed to declare the inaction of the 2"^^ respondent in 1. renewing the passport of the petitioner bearing No.L7867607 duly correcting the date of birth, surname and name of the husband of the petitioner pursuant to the application dated 31.05.2023 inspite of her personal visits, as illegal nd arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional, and consequently direct the 2 respondent herein to renew/re-issue the passport duly making necessary correction in terms of the application dated 31.05.2023. 2. The case of the petitioner is that, petitioner is the passport holder bearing No. L7867607, which expired on 11.03.2024. Anticipating the validity period of the passport, the petitioner submitted an online application for renwal of the same on 30.01.2023. Even after receipt of the application of the petitioner for renewal, the respondent authorities neither considered the application nor renewed the passport. In the meantime, the validity of the passport lapsed by 31.03.2024. After one and half year from the date of application, the petitioner filed the present writ petition challenging the inaction of the respondents for non-renewal of her passport. 3. During hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, even after receipt of the application of the petitioner for renewal of the passport, the respondent authorities neither considered the application nor renewed the passport and that, due to the inordinate delay caused by the 2'^'^ respondent. f the passport of the petitioner expired and requested the 2'"'^ respondent to renew/re-issue the passport. 4. On the other hand, learned Standing Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 & 2 submits that, since the application submitted by the petitioner on 31.05.2023 seeking renewal of the passport is not a valid application, the same was not considered by the authorities. In the meanwhile, the validity period of the passport expired and the petitioner shall obtain passport afresh after making necessary application and after submitting required documents by the authorities afresh. 5. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents and perused the material available on record. 6. Undisputedly, the petitioner was issued passport bearing No. L7867607 on 12.03.2014, which expired on 11.03.2024. Further, since the petitioner noticed certain mistakes in the passport with regard to her year of birth etc she made an application for reissue of the passport on 31.05.2023 much before the expiry period, by submitting relevant documents. But, due to the inordinate delay caused by the 2"^^ respondent, passport of the petitioner has expired. In these circumstances, the petitioner is permitted to submit a fresh application for re-issue/renewal of the passport along with all necessary documents to the 2"^ respondent. Upon submission of such application, the 7. % 2'"'^ respondent shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders/issue passport, if the application is in order, within a period of two months from the date of submission of such representation of the petitioner. new With the above direction, writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 8. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ 9. Petition shall stand closed. SDI- N.NAGAMIVIA ASSISTANT REGISTRAF? I SECTION OFFICER //TRUE COPY// To, The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of External Affairs, South Block Secretariat, Raising Hills, New Delhi The Regional Passport Officer, Office of the Regional Passport Office, Stalin Centre, D.No. 2737158, Governorpet, MG Road, Vijayawada. One CC to SRI SRINIVASA RAO KURAPATl Advocate [OPUC] One CC to SRI VENNA HEMANTH KUMAR(CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) Advocate [OPUC] Three CD Copies 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. HIGH COURT DATED:06/01/2025 ORDER 2 ^ JAN 2C:j I Current Section . ^ WP.No.30694 of 2024 <j >1^ DISPOSED THE W.P. WITHOUT COSTS