- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1898 WP No. 39723 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 39723 OF 2025 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: SRI. S. VELMURUGAN S/O LATE SIVASANKARAN, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.A-304, GARDEN MANSION APARTMENT, OLD AIRPORT ROAD, HAL 2ND STAGE, BANGALORE- 560 008. &PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRAVEEN S.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, BENGALURU REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER 8TH BLOCK, 80 FEET ROAD KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560 095. Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1898 WP No. 39723 of 2025 2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE SEVA KENDRA NO. 45, PRESTIGE LIBRA, LALBAGH ROAD, NEAR URVASHI THEATRE, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560027 REP. BY AUTHORISED OFFICER. 3. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BANGALORE CITY NO. 1, INFANTRY ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001. 4. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY JEEVAN BHEEMANAGAR POLICE STATION JEEVAN BIMA NAGAR MAIN RD, SECTOR 12, JEEVAN BIMA NAGAR, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560075. RESPONDENT NOS. 3 AND 4 REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. &RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. AJAY PRABHU M., CGSC FOR R1 AND R2; SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH., AGA FOR R3 AND R4) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1898 WP No. 39723 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO (A) ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 AND 2 TO PERMIT THE PETITIONERS APPLICATION VIDE ANNEXURE D DATED 18/10/2025 AND THEREBY RENEW THE PETITIONERS PASSPORT FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD ORAL ORDER The petitioner seeks direction to the first and the second respondents to renew his passport for a period of ten years. Sri Ajay Prabhu, a learned Central Government Standing counsel who is called upon to accept notice for the first and second - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1898 WP No. 39723 of 2025 respondents, submits that the petitioner's application for renewal is not considered because of the pending proceedings in Crime Nos.48/2023 and 505/2023 on the file of the I ACJM, Magistrate Court, Bengaluru. Sri Ajay Prabhu submits that further investigation in these proceedings are stayed by this Court in Criminal Petition No.11152/2025 on 23.10.2025. When queried, the learned counsel submits that if the petitioner files an application in Criminal Petition No.11152/2025 for permission to travel, and if this Court permits the petitioner to travel, the petitioner's request for a Short Validity Passport would be considered. Sri B Ravindranath, the learned Additional Government Advocate who is called upon to accept notice for the third and fourth respondents, is heard. The petition stands disposed of reserving liberty to the petitioner to file an application for leave to travel in the pending Criminal Petition No.11152/2025 and - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1898 WP No. 39723 of 2025 then approach the concerned respondents for issuance of a Short Validity Passport. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE AN/-