- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4521 WP No. 34433 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 34433 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SRI APSAR PASHA @ KALLU S/O LATE MOHAMMED HANIF AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, NOs.8 AND 7, 3RD MAIN ROAD SHAMANNA NAGAR BANGALORE KARNATAKA 560026 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MUZAFFAR AHMED.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY MADANAYAKANAHALLI P S REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BANGALIRE-1. 2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER OFFICE OF THE PASSPORT OFFICE 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD KORAMANGALA, BANGALORE 560095 Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4521 WP No. 34433 of 2025 3. THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE PASSPORT OFFICE 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD, KORAMANGALA, BANGALORE - 560095. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ADITYA SINGH, CGC FOR R1 & R3; SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH., AGA FOR R1) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO RENEW THE PETITIONER'S PASSPORT BEARING NO. N8953485, ISSUED ON 24.03.2016, ANNEXURE -D IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4521 WP No. 34433 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioner has filed this petition for directions to the second respondent to renew his passport in No.N8953485 asserting that the pendency of the criminal proceedings in Crime No.659/2018 cannot be a reason to refuse renewal of the passport because he is admitted to bail by the competent Court. The petitioner contends that his passport must be renewed because of his intended travel abroad. Sri Aditya Singh, the learned Central Government Counsel who is permitted to take notice for the second and third respondents, submits that if the petitioner is permitted to travel by the competent Court, the second respondent can consider the request for issuance of short validity passport. Sri B Ravindranath, a the learned Additional Government Advocate, who accepts notice for the first respondent, is heard, and the petition stands disposed of by this - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4521 WP No. 34433 of 2025 order in the light of the undisputed facts and the stand on behalf of the second respondent. ORDER [a] The petition is allowed in part reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the second respondent with an application for issuance of short validity passport along with the competent Court's order permitting him to travel abroad. [b] The second respondent is called upon to decide on such application expeditiously within an outer limit of four [4] weeks from the date of receipt of the application and the competent Court's order. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE AN/-