Sr. No. 45 HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU WP (C) No. 1849/2026 Zakir Hussain …. Petitioner/Appellant(s) Through:- Mr. Parvesh Singh Salaria, Advocate V/s UT of J&K and others …..Respondent(s) Through:- Ms. Monika Kohli, Sr. AAG (through vc) with Mr. P.D. Singh, Dy. AG. for R-1 to 4 Mr. Karan Sharma, CGSC (through vc) for R-5 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY PARIHAR, JUDGE ORDER 22.06.2026 1. The petitioner submits that he was holding a valid passport bearing No. N7791068, which expired on 02.03.2026, and that he had applied for its renewal prior to the date of expiry. According to the petitioner, the renewal process has been stalled on account of respondent Nos. 1 to 4 having failed to furnish the requisite verification/NoC to respondent No. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that under the Passport Act and the prescribed procedure, the concerned police authorities are required to furnish the available information relating to the passport holder to the Passport Authority within a stipulated period, whereas in the present case the verification has remained pending since July, 2025. It is further submitted that instead of issuing notice, an appropriate direction may be passed to respondent Nos. 1 to 4 to expedite the matter and furnish the necessary information to facilitate consideration of the petitioner's application for renewal of passport. WP(C) No. 1849/2026 2. On the other hand, learned Deputy Advocate General appearing for respondent Nos. 1 to 4 submits that the authorities are required to verify the antecedents of the passport holder and thereafter furnish the available material to respondent No. 5. He, however, fairly submits that in the event a direction is issued for consideration of the petitioner's case in accordance with law, the respondents have no objection. 3. Having considered the submissions made and bearing in mind that the grievance of the petitioner is confined to the delay in processing his passport renewal application due to non-submission of the requisite verification report by respondent Nos. 1 to 4, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos. 1 to 4 to expedite the process and furnish the requisite information/report to respondent No. 5 in accordance with the prescribed procedure and applicable law, so as to enable respondent No. 5 to take an appropriate decision on the petitioner's application for renewal of passport. The needful shall be done at the earliest. 4. The petition stands disposed of accordingly. (SANJAY PARIHAR) JUDGE Jammu: 22.06.2026. Vishal Khajuria