- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34179 WP No. 19211 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 19211 OF 2026 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: 1. SMT SHAILLYKUMAWAT @ SHAILLYBHATNAGAR D/O. SRI. DWARKAKUMAWAT, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/AT NO. 9086, PRESTIGE ROYALE GARDENS, DODDABALLAPUR MAIN ROAD, YELAHANKA, BENGALURU 560064 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MADHUKAR M. D., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU, JANPATH NEW DELHI - 110001. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE - BENGALURU, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, 80 FEET ROAD, 8TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560095. Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34179 WP No. 19211 of 2026 REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL PASSPOPRT OFFICER. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.S.RAJASHEKAR., ASG FOR R1 & R2) THIS WRIT PETTION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE ORDER OF REFUSAL DATED 18.05.2026 PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.2 IN RESPECT OF FILE NO.BN1077074774324, PRODUCED HEREWITH AS ANNEXURE-A2 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. Sri. S. Raja Shekhar, learned ASG accepts notice for respondent No.1 and 2. 2. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: "1. Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the order of refusal dated 18.05.2026 passed by respondent No.2 in respect of file No.BN1077074774324, produced herewith as Annexure-A2. 2. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ directing the respondent No.2 not to take any further action with regards to the passport file No. BN1077074774324 until the disposal of - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34179 WP No. 19211 of 2026 CRLMP/3347/2026 petition filed in the High Court of Rajasthan (Annexure-B). 3. Direct Respondent No.2 to furnish complete records relating to relating to passport application No. BN1077074774324 as referred in Annexure-A. 4. Pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity" 3. Though there are various grounds which have been raised for the purpose of consideration of this matter, only one ground would be sufficient inasmuch as the show cause notice, in terms of Annexure-F, came to be issued by the respondent on 18.05.2026 and the impugned order at Annexure-A being the order of refusal was also made on 18.05.2026 without affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner or affording an opportunity to petitioner to submit his explanation. Ex facie, there is a violation of the principles of natural justice. 4. In that view of the matter, this Court passes the following: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:34179 WP No. 19211 of 2026 O R D E R (i) Writ petition is partly allowed. (ii) The order dated 18.05.2026 at Annexure-A is set aside. (iii) Petitioner is permitted to file his objections and/or say in respect of the show cause notice at Annexure-F within 15 days from today i.e. on or before 22.07.2026. (iv) Once the said objections are filed, respondent No.2 is directed to consider the same and pass necessary orders in accordance with law. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE VBS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8