- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33639 WP No. 7952 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 7952 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SRI ASHOK REDDY GULLAPPA S/O. GULLAPPA, AGED ABOUT 54YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.48/4, SHREEVARI, GULLAPPA REDDY GARDEN OPP. AIKYA APARTMENT, HULIMAVU, BENGALURU-560 076 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SAMPATH A.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, 8TH BLOCK, 80 FT ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU 560 095. Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33639 WP No. 7952 of 2025 2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, BENGALURU 8TH BLOCK, 80 FT ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU. 5650 095. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. RESHMA K T.,ADVOCATE) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE COMMUNICATION DATED 23.02.2024 BEARING LETTER REFERENCE NO. SCN/317148569/24 BY R-2 REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER BENGALURU VIDE ANNX-A; CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO RECONSIDER THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL /RE ISSUANCE OF PASSPORT IN FAVOUR OF PETITIONER IGNORING THE PENDENCY OF THE CRL CASE AS HELD BY THIS HONBLE COURT IN WP NO. 18266/2023 DATED 14.02.2024 VIDE ANNX-F. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33639 WP No. 7952 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD ORAL ORDER The petitioner's request for issuance of passport has resulted in the impugned communication dated 23.02.2024 and the second respondent has issued this Endorsement calling upon the petitioner to provide suitable explanation in view of the pendency of the proceedings in Crime No.62/2022. Ms. Reshma K T, the learned Standing Counsel for the second respondent, states that the investigation is stayed by this Court in WP No.16715/2022 and parallelly the petitioner is admitted to bail by the Sessions Court under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Crl.Misc.8291/2022 [CCH.61]. On the disposal of this petition, Ms.Reshma T submits that if the petitioner intends to travel, it should be open to him to file an application in W.P. No.16715/2022 for permission to travel, and if the Court indeed permits the petitioner to travel, the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33639 WP No. 7952 of 2025 second respondent will consider the application and issue Short Validity Passport. When heard in the light of these submissions, Sri Sampath A, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petition indeed could be disposed of with liberty to file an application in the petition in WP No.16715/2022. In the light of the afore the following: ORDER The petition stands disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to file an application as aforesaid in the petition in W.P.No. 16715/2022. SD/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE NV