APHC010095942026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] FRIDAY,THE TWENTY SEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 5542/2026 Between: 1. KOGESWARA RAO SAMARDI, S/O. THATHANNA SAMARDI, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, 9-171, DORAGUDA, MADAGADA, ARAKU VALLEY, ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH 531149 ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK. SECRETARIATE BUILDING. NEW DELHI 11011. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, NEAR P.F.OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, MARRIPALEM, VUDA LAY OUT, NAD POST, VISAKHAPATNAM-530009. 3. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, ANDRA POLICE STATION, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. KAKUMANU JOJI AMRUTHA RAJU Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. SRK, J WP No.5542 of 2026 2 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 5542 of 2026 ORDER: Heard Sri K.Joji Amrutha Raju, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Md.Farooq, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home and Ms.S.Sravana Sandhya, learned Standing Counsel for Central Government. 2. The petitioner herein made an application vide Application No. VSD065402613425 dated 28.07.2025 for issuance of a passport, but 2nd respondent has not issued the passport on the ground that the petitioner is involved in Crime No. 137 of 2021 of Andra Police Station, Vizianagaram District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 354, 376 and 511 IPC, wherein the police filed a charge sheet, and the case is pending for trial. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that mere pendency of a criminal case is no ground to deny issuance of a passport. 4. Learned Standing Counsel for Central Government would submit that the case is pending for trial on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Gajapathinagaram, against the petitioner, wherein the petitioner is arrayed as accused. Learned counsel would submit that the petitioner has to approach the jurisdictional Court and make an application. SRK, J WP No.5542 of 2026 3 5. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner would approach the jurisdictional Court and file an application. 6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case and with the consent of both the learned counsel, the Writ Petition is disposed of, giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional Court and file an appropriate application. If such an application is filed by the petitioner, the jurisdictional Court shall consider and pass appropriate orders thereon, keeping in view Rule 12 of the Passport Rules 1980. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ________________________ K. SREENIVASA REDDY, J. Date:27.02.2026 Asr SRK, J WP No.5542 of 2026 4 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No.5542 of 2026 Date:27.02.2026 Asr