IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 102 CWP-18197-2026 Date of Decision : July 01, 2026 DR. ALKA MITTAL AND ANOTHER -PETITIONERS V/S UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. C.L. Verma, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Varun Veer Chauhan, Advocate (Through V.C.) for the respondents No.1 and 2. Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, A.A.G., Punjab for the respondents No.3 to 5. *** KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL) 1. Through the instant writ petition, the petitioners seek a direction to respondent No.2 to issue/renew their passports for a period of ten years. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the indolent and lackadaisical approach of the Regional Passport Officer in deciding the petitioners’ applications for issuance of passports has propelled them to knock on the doors of this Court. It is submitted that merely an oral refusal to issue passports has been conveyed to the petitioners, but no speaking order has yet been passed in respect of such refusal. 3. Per contra, Mr. Varun Veer Chauhan, Advocate, who is in receipt of an advance copy of the writ petition and represents the respondents No.1 and 2, submits, on instructions from the authority DEVINDER YADAV 2026.07.02 11:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment CWP-18197-2026 2 concerned, that the Regional Passport Officer is willing to process and decide the petitioners’ applications expeditiously. However, the only impediment to the consideration thereof is the awaiting of the Police Clearance Report from the jurisdictional police station in the State of Punjab. 4. At this stage, the learned State counsel, who is also in receipt of an advance copy of the writ petition and represents the respondents No.3 to 5, submits, on instructions from Inspector Amritpal Singh, that the needful shall be done within a period of 20 days from today. 5. In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that, at this stage, the instant writ petition can be disposed of with a direction to respondent No.5- S.H.O. of the jurisdictional police station to submit the petitioners’ Police Clearance Report to respondent No.2- Regional Passport Officer within a period of 20 days from today, whereupon the latter shall endeavour to take a final decision on the petitioners’ applications for issuance/renewal of passports within 15 days thereafter. 6. The instant writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. However, liberty is reserved to the petitioners to move an appropriate application for revival of the instant writ petition in the event the authorities fail to abide by the directions issued hereinabove. (KULDEEP TIWARI) July 01, 2026 JUDGE devinder Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No DEVINDER YADAV 2026.07.02 11:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment