APHC010217862026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3330] TUESDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 10973/2026 Between: 1. PUKKALLA APPANNA,, S/O. NIRAKARI PUKKALLA, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, SEAMAN, R/O. MAIN STREET, GUPPIDIPETA VILLAGE, KODURU POST, SRIKAKULAM - 532 430, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, VISAKHAPATNAM, NEAR P.F. OFFICE, MARRIPALEM VUDA LAYOUT, NAD POST, NEAR PF OFFICE ROAD, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH - 530 009. 2. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, DISTRICT POLICE OFFICE, SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 532001. 3. THE S H O, WOMEN POLICE STATION, SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 532001. 4. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS REP BY THE SECRETARY, 23 D JANPATH RD RAJPATH 2 AREA, CENTRAL SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI-110011. ...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 issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS (a) to declare the inaction of the 1st Respondent - Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam, in granting reissue of passport to the Petitioner vide ARN No. 26-1055075894 File No. VS 1076603628626, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, and consequently direct the 1st Respondent to forthwith process the application and issue a renewed passport for a period of 10 years, notwithstanding the pendency of C.C. No. 1284 of 2023, in compliance with the orders passed by the learned JMFC, Srikakulam in Cri.M.P.No.4133of 2024 dated 11.02.2025 and the interim stay granted by this Hon'ble Court in Crl.P. No. 3053 of 2026 dated 17.04.2026(b) to direct the 2nd and 3rd Respondent, to forthwith submit a proper, fair and legally compliant Police Verification Report, duly reflecting the subsisting judicial orders including the stay of further proceedings in C.C. No. 1284 of 2023, without making adverse or misleading remarks (c) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SATYA SREENIVASA RAO K Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. M UMA DEVI (CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL) The Court made the following: 3 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 10973/2026 ORDER: The present Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the following relief/s: “…. to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS (a) to declare the inaction of the 1st Respondent-Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam, in granting reissue of passport to the Petitioner vide ARN No.26-1055075894; File No.VS1076603628626, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, and consequently direct the 1st Respondent to forthwith process the application and issue a renewed passport for a period of 10 years, notwithstanding the pendency of C.C.No.1284 of 2023, in compliance with the orders passed by the learned JMFC, Srikakulam in Crl.M.P.No.4133 of 2024 dated 11.02.2025 and the interim stay granted by this Hon'ble Court in Crl.P.No.3053 of 2026 dated 17.04.2026 (b) to direct the 2nd and 3rd Respondent, to forthwith submit a proper, fair and legally compliant Police Verification Report, duly reflecting the subsisting judicial orders including the stay of further proceedings in C.C.No.1284 of 2023, without making adverse or misleading remarks (c) and pass such other order or orders……..” 2. Heard Sri K. Satya Sreenivasa Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents. 3. The writ petition is filed challenging the action of the respondents in not renewing the petitioner’s passport vide application ARN No.26-1055075894; file No.VS1076603628626, on the ground that a criminal case has been pending against the petitioner. 4 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner herein is arrayed as accused No.5 in C.C.No.1284 of 2023 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class - cum-Principal Junior Civil Judge at Srikakulam. This Court has granted stay of all further proceedings in the said CC. He submits that non-renewal of the passport on the ground of pendency of a criminal case violates the principle of natural justice and is contrary to the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a series of judgments. Hence, prayed to direct the respondents to process the petitioner’ application for renewal of the passport. 5. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of, directing the respondents to process the petitioner’s application for renewal of the passport for the full statutory period, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two (02) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________________ JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO Date: 05.05.2026 ANS 5 180 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 10973/2026 Date: 05.05.2026 ANS