- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:42744 WP No. 29866 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 29866 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: HARISH KUBENDRAPPA S/O KUBENDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/A NO. 1578, 1ST CROSS, CHANDRA LAYOUT, BENGALURU - 560 040. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NANDANISIDDARTH A. NIJAGANNAVAR, ADVOCATE) AND: THE PASSPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BANGALORE - 560 095. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. S.R. DODWAD, ASG) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITY TO REISSUE THE PASSPORT IN APPLICATION NO. BNZ075565550625 IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE WITH AN OUTER LIMIT OF ONE WEEK. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:42744 WP No. 29866 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. Learned ASG accepts notice for the respondent. 2. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: "1. Direct the Respondent Authority to reissue the passport in application no.BNZ075565550625 in favour of the Petitioner as expeditiously as possible with an outer limit of one week in the interest of justice and equity. 2. Grant such other relief or reliefs that this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the interest of justice and equity." 3. The short grievance of the petitioner is that the application filed by the petitioner for re-issuance of passport has not been considered by the respondent and orders passed. 4. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that the petitioner being involved in a criminal offence, has been charge sheeted in C.C.No.1320/2024, which is pending on the file of the Principal Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.) and JMFC Court at Hosadurga Taluk, Chitradurga and it is for that - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:42744 WP No. 29866 of 2025 reason the application for re-issuance of passport could not be considered and necessary orders passed. 5. This Court has considered this aspect in several matters and has held that even if a charge sheet has been laid in any particular matter, the applicant would be entitled for re-issuance of the passport for short validity, however, subject to the orders passed by the Court seized of the criminal offences. In that view of the matter, I pass the following: ORDER i. Writ Petition is allowed. ii. The respondent is directed to consider the application for re-issuance submitted by the petitioner and re-issue the passport with short validity within a period of 3 weeks from today. iii. The petitioner's travel outside the country shall, however, be subject to positive orders being passed by the Principal Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.) and JMFC Court at Hosadurga Taluk, Chitradurga in C.C.No.1320/2024. iv. Needless to say, the petitioner would have to seek for permission from the said Court before - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:42744 WP No. 29866 of 2025 seeking to travel out of India and comply with any conditions imposed by the said Court in the said matter. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE VM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30