APHC010353662026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3332] TUESDAY, THE 14th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 18950/2026 Between: 1. BACHKORE ASIF, AS ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE UNION OF INDIA, AS 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICIER, S 3. THE SUPERITENDENT OF POLICE, S ...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 Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. RAMAKRISHNA AKURATHI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. The Court made the following: 2 ORDER: To declare the action of the 2nd respondent in withholding the surname and reissue passport vide application No.VJ1077579227325 dated 29.04.2025, as illegal and arbitrary, the present writ petition is filed. 2. Heard Sri Akurathi Rama Krishna, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri K.Venkateswarulu, learned Central Government Counsel for respondent Nos.1 & 2 and Sri V.Farook, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home for respondent Nos.3 & 4. 3. After arguing the matter for some time, learned counsel for the petitioner sought liberty to file an appropriate application before the Court of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Gooty. 4. Perusal of the material available on record shows that Calendar Case No.117 of 2025 is pending against the petitioner on the file of the Court of Judicial First Class Magistrate, Gooty. 5. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, as well as various High Courts, have consistently held that criminal proceedings can be said to have commenced only after the competent Court has taken cognizance of the offence and the issuance of renewal of a passport would thereafter depend upon the concerned Court granting No Objection Certificate or appropriate permission. 3 6. Taking the facts and circumstances of the case into consideration and having regard to the fact that C.C.No.117 of 2025 is pending against the petitioner and that the petitioner intends to file an application before the concerned Court, this Court is inclined to dispose of the Writ Petition at the stage of admission itself. 7. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to make an appropriate application before the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, Gooty, for issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ for reissuance of his Passport. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI Date: 14th July, 2026 RKS Whether the order is: Speaking Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable