APHC010089392026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] THURSDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 5301/2026 Between: 1. KARNATI SRINIVASA RAO,, S/O K.PULLA RAO, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PEDAPARIMI VILLAGE, THULLUR MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK, SECRETARIAT, RAISINA HILL, NEW DELHI, INDIA - 110001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, VENKATESWARA THEATRE COMPLEX, MG ROAD (BUNDAR ROAD), OPP RADIO STATION VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH - 520010. 3. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522238 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, THULLUR POLICE STATION, THULLUR MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522237 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to (a) Issue an appropriate Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of SRK, J W.P.No.5301 of 2026 2 Mandamus, declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in keeping the petitioner's passport renew/re-issue applications (including File No. VJ2076309072726, dated 16-01-2026) On Hold and insisting upon final judgment/court permission as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and violative of the Passports Act, 1967 and Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India b) Consequently direct the 2nd respondent to process the application and renew/re-issue the passport to the petitioner forthwith bearing no. L3609533, within a stipulated time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to grant Interim Direction, directing the respondent no.2 to process the application and renew/re-issue the passport to the petitioner forthwith bearing no. L3609533, pending disposal of this writ petition Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. NUTHALAPATI MOHAN Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. SRIDHAR TUMMALAPUDI ( CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL) The Court made the following: SRK, J W.P.No.5301 of 2026 3 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.5301 of 2026 ORDER: Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned counsel appearing for respondents. 2. The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking the following relief: To declare the action of the respondent No.2 in keeping the petitioner’s passport renew/re-issue applications (including file No.VJ2076309072726, dated 16.01.2026) ‘on hold’ and insisting upon final judgment/Court permission as illegal and arbitrary, and consequently direct the 2nd respondent to process the application and renew/re-issue the passport to the petitioner forthwith. 3. Case of the petitioner is that on earlier occasion, he was issued passport bearing No.L3609533 on 19.08.2013 at Visakhapatnam, which expired on 18.08.2023. For re-issuing the same, he made several applications through the official passport seva portal. On 16.01.2026, he again applied for re-issuance of passport. The status of his application has been kept ‘on hold’ at the GO(granting) stage with the specific remark of the granting officer as “Court case pending in pre file VJ2075232536225, call for final judgment/permission from Court”. He further submits that a fresh FIR No.242 of 2024 has been registered by Thullur police station on 14.11.2024 under Sections 79, 329(3), 324(4), 115(1), 118(1), 351(2) r/w 3(5) BNS. He was arrayed as accused No.18. The said FIR is at the investigation stage only. Mere registration of FIR or ongoing police investigation does not constitute SRK, J W.P.No.5301 of 2026 4 ‘proceedings pending before a criminal Court’ within the meaning of Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967. 4. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 issued notice dated 04.03.2026 to the petitioner herein seeking clarifications required regarding issuance of passport facilities to the petitioner herein on the ground that adverse police verification report has been submitted as against the petitioner herein. In connection with that the respondent authorities sought explanation from the petitioner. 5. In view of the said reasons, the petitioner herein is permitted to submit his explanation to the notice dated 04.03.2026, as expeditiously as possible, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of copy of this order. The respondent authorities are directed to consider the same in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a period of two weeks thereafter. 6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. 7. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. _________________________ K. SREENIVASA REDDY, J. Date: 05.03.2026 sj SRK, J W.P.No.5301 of 2026 5 185 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No.5301 of 2026 Date: 05.03.2026 sj