- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37273 WP No. 27076 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 27076 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SHANKAR RANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, R/AT NO. 102, 2ND CROSS, NEAR ANJANEYA TEMPLE, 3RD FLOOR, TAVAREKERE, BENGALURU - 560 029 …PETITIONER (BY SMT. SANGEETA SANGANNAVAR, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. V. C. BHADRAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, SANSKRIT BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37273 WP No. 27076 of 2025 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560 095. 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, BENGALURU CITY-1, INFANTRY ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001. 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, MADIVALA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY, BENGALURU - 560 068. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT RESHMA K.T, CGC FOR R1 AND R2; SRI. SHAMANTH NAIK, HCGP FOR R3 AND R4) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED OBJECTION LETTER DATED 11.07.2025 (ANNEXURE-A) ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.2; DIRECT RESPONDENTS NO.1 AND 2 TO FORTHWITH RENEW AND RE-ISSUE THE PASSPORT IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER WITH SHORT-TERM VALIDITY OF ONE YEAR, IN CONTINUATION OF THE EARLIER ORDER OF THIS HONBLE COURT IN W.P. NO. 14422/2024, SUBJECT TO THE PETITIONER OBTAINING - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37273 WP No. 27076 of 2025 NECESSARY PERMISSION FROM THE TRIAL COURT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD ORAL ORDER The petitioner, who is issued with short term validity passport, is aggrieved by the second respondent's impugned Endorsement dated 11.07.2025. The second respondent has issued this Endorsement informing the petitioner that his request for issuance of passport cannot be considered because of pending criminal proceedings. Ms. Reshma K. T, the learned Central Government Counsel who accepts notice for the first and the second respondents, submits that the proceedings are still pending and that until and unless those proceedings culminate in favour of the petitioner - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37273 WP No. 27076 of 2025 there cannot be a passport for him in terms of the Guidelines in No.G.S.R. 570(E) dated 25.08.1993 in force. However, Ms. Reshma K. T. submits that if the petitioner makes an application for short term validity passport, the second respondent will consider the same within two weeks from the date of receipt of the application. In rejoinder, Mrs. Sangeeta Sangannavar, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner stands trial for compoundable offences and that there is every likelihood of a settlement. This Court is of the view that until closure of the pending proceedings there cannot be any direction for issuance of passport, but the petition must be disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to apply for issuance of Short Validity Passport observing that if such application is made, the second respondent must consider the same and issue - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37273 WP No. 27076 of 2025 such passport, as stated before this Court, within two weeks. The petition stands disposed of accordingly. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE RB