- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41031 WP No. 25815 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 25815 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SITARAM PEDDIBHOTLA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, SON OF LATE P.NAGESHWAR RAO RESIDING AT FLAT B-1108, DIVYA SREE 77 PLACE APARTMENTS, J P NAGAR, YAMLUR ROAD, MARATHAHALLI, BENGALULRU - 560 037. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KASHYAP N. NAIK, ADVOCATE) AND: UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110 001 HAVING ITS REGIONAL OFFICE AT REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, BANGALORE 80 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA 8TH BLOCK, BANGALORE - 560 095 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHANTHI BHUSHAN H, ADVOCATE DSGI FOR R1) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A. ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS, OR SUCH OTHER WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION TO Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41031 WP No. 25815 of 2025 THE RESPONDENT TO CONSIDER THE PETITIONERS APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF HIS PASSPORT BEARING NO. L6310559 AND CONSE-QUENTLY, TO RENEW THE PETITIONERS PASSPORT (BEARING NO. L6310559 (ANNEXURE-A) AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: "A. Issue a Writ of Mandamus, or such other Writ, Order or Direction to the Respondent to consider the Petitioner's application for renewal of his Passport bearing No. L6310559 and consequently, to renew the Petitioner's passport (bearing No. L6310559 (Annexure A)); (Annexure D). Filling No. BN2077570974525 B. Pass an order granting the costs of the present Writ Petition; and C. Pass such other Order/s as the circumstances may war-rant in the interests of justice and equity." 2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the application which had been filed by the petitioner for renewal/re- issuance of his passport has not been considered by the respondent and as such the petitioner is before this Court seeking for the aforesaid reliefs. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41031 WP No. 25815 of 2025 3. Learned DSGI who has entered appearance submits that a full validity passport cannot be issued to the petitioner in view of a chargesheet which has been already filed in CC No.637/2022 pending on the file of the 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad, though the same has been stayed by the Honorable High Court of Telangana in Criminal Petition No.11738/2022 vide order dated 28.12.2022. 4. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner and respondent, I am of the considered opinion that the liberty to travel guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India cannot be curtailed by the passport authorities merely on account of the criminal proceedings being pending. I am of the further opinion that a direction could be issued to the respondent to issue a short validity passport by imposing certain conditions on the petitioner. As such, I pass the following - ORDER a. The writ petition is allowed. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:41031 WP No. 25815 of 2025 b. A mandamus is issued directing respondent to consider the application for renewal/re-issuance submitted by the petitioner and issue a short validity passport within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. c. The petitioner shall before leaving the country, seven days in advance inform the Court seized of the criminal proceedings in which the petitioner has been arraigned as an accused, as also inform the said Court upon his return back into the country, within seven days of his return. Any condition of bail issued on the petitioner would continue to apply. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE YKL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9 CT: BHK