APHC010377472025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3459] FRIDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM WRIT PETITION Nos: 19159 AND 19164 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO: 19159/2025: Between: 1. T DHANALAKSHMI, W/O T. SESAGIRI RAO, AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, OCC. HOME MAKER, R/O D. NO. 4-20-68/A, 3/A LANE, NAVA BHARATH NAGAR, GUNTUR - 522006, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, VIJAYAWADA - 520010, ANDHRA PRADESH ...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 particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of Respondents 1 and 2 in withholding the renewal of passport of the petitioner pursuant to application Ref. No. 25-1054133405, on the ground of pendency of criminal case in S.C. No. 39/2024 in Crime No. 72/2020, as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and Consequently direct the respondents to process and renew the passport of the petitioner and Pass 2 JS,J W.P.Nos.19159 & 19164 of 2025 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 implead the proposed respondent as RESPONDENT No.3 in W.P.No.19159 of 2024 and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BHASKAR PREM KOUSHIK Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. JUPUDI V K YAGNADUTT(CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) 2. PELLETI RAJESH KUMAR (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) WRIT PETITON No.19164 OF 2025: Between: 1. SRI T. SESHAGIRI RAO, S/O T. MANOVINTHARA RAO, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, OCC- SELF-EMPLOYED, R/O D. NO. 4-20-68/A, 3/A LANE, NAVABHARATH NAGAR GUNTUR - 522006, ANDHRA PRADESH ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, VIJAYAWADA - 520010, ANDHRA PRADESH ...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 particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the cancellation of the petitioners passport pursuant to application Ref. No. 25-1054133327, on the ground of pendency of Sessions Case No. 39/2024, as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and Consequently, 3 JS,J W.P.Nos.19159 & 19164 of 2025 direct the Respondents 1 and 2 to renew the petitioners passport and issue the new passport 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 implead the proposed respondent as RESPONDENT No.3 in W.P.No.19164 of 2024 and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BHASKAR PREM KOUSHIK Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. JUPUDI V K YAGNADUTT(CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) 2. A RAVINDRA BABU (CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL) 4 JS,J W.P.Nos.19159 & 19164 of 2025 The Court made the following COMMON ORDER: Writ Petition No.19159 of 2025 is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: <…to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of Respondents 1 and 2 in withholding the renewal of passport of the petitioner pursuant to application Ref. No. 25-1054133405, on the ground of pendency of criminal case in S.C. No. 39/2024 in Crime No. 72/2020, as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and Consequently direct the respondents to process and renew the passport of the petitioner and Pass…= 2. Writ Petition No.19164 of 2025 is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: <…to issue a Writ-Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the cancellation of the petitioners passport pursuant to application Ref. No. 25-1054133327, on the ground of pendency of Sessions Case No. 39/2024, as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and Consequently, direct the Respondents 1 and 2 to renew the petitioners passport and issue the new passport and Pass…= 3. Since the issue involved in both the writ petitions is one and the same, these cases are decided by way of this common order. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents in both the Writ Petitions have consented for disposal of these Writ Petitions at the admission stage. 5. In view of the above, this Court feels it appropriate to dispose of both the Writ Petitions by directing the petitioners’ to submit their explanation to the show cause notices, dated 17.07.2025 and 15.07.2025 respectively. Upon receiving such explanation, the respondents shall consider and pass appropriate orders for renewal of the petitioners’ passports. 5 JS,J W.P.Nos.19159 & 19164 of 2025 6. Accordingly, with the above observation, both these Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM Date: 12.09.2025 KAS