Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : 03.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010319782018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3332] FRIDAY, THE 3rd DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 14605/2018 Between: 1. RAPAKA VARA PRASADA RAO, S/O. SRI VENKATA RAO, HINDU, AGE 60 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS, RIO. D.NO.4-53, BEACH NAGAR, CHINTALAMORI - 533 250, MALKIPURAM MANDAL, E.G. DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP., BY ITS JOINT SECRETARY (CPV) AND CHIEF PASSPORT OFFICER, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AT ROOM NO.20, PATIALA HOUSE ANNEX, NEW DELHI- 110 001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, NEAR PF OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, VUDA LAYOUT, MARIPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM 530 009. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, EAST GODAVARI AT KAKINADA. 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, MALKIPURAM PS, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): 2 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 IA NO: 1 OF 2018 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 to direct the 2nd respondent to return the passport bearing No.R4553568 of the petitioner to enable him to visit Russia and Dubai on a business tour, pending disposal of the present Writ Petition, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. PONNADA SREE VYAS Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. THENEPALLI NIRANJAN SC FOR CENTRAL. GOVT 2. GP FOR HOME (AP) The Court made the following: 3 ORDER: Aggrieved by the action of the 2nd respondent in not releasing the passport bearing No.R4553568 of the petitioner to enable him to visit Russia and Dubai on a business tour, the present writ petition is filed. Sri Vaibhav Raj, learned counsel representing Sri Ponnada Sree Vyas, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that pursuant to filing of the writ petition, the criminal case vide Crl.P.No.5322 of 2019 which was registered against the petitioner has been quashed on 10.08.2022. By virtue of change of circumstances, learned counsel for the petitioner sought liberty to the petitioner to approach the authority concerned for issuance of passport. Recording the said submission, the Writ Petition is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the authority concerned for issuance of passport. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI Date: 03rd July, 2026 RKS Whether the order is: Speaking Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable