CONTP(MD)No.2111 of 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 24.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI Cont.P.(MD).No.2111 of 2026 in W.P(MD)No.5332 of 2026 R.Dharmaraja ... Petitioner Vs V.Vasanthan, Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Street, Race Course Road, Madurai. ... Respondent PRAYER: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act to punish the contemnor / respondent for willfully and deliberately disobeying the order of this Court made in W.P.(MD).No.5332 of 2026 dated 02.03.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Prithivirajan For Respondents : Mr.K.Govindaraj, Deputy Solicitor General of India 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONTP(MD)No.2111 of 2026 ORDER The present Contempt Petition has been filed alleging wilful disobedience of the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD).No.5332 of 2026, dated 02.03.2026. 2. By the said order dated 02.03.2026, this Court directed the respondent to consider the petitioner's request for issuance of a passport and issue the same, if the petitioner is otherwise eligible, in accordance with law. 3. When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for the respondent submitted that there is no wilful disobedience of the order passed by this Court. It is submitted that two criminal cases, namely C.C.No.647 of 2025 and C.C.No.687 of 2023 are pending against the petitioner. In view of the pendency of the said criminal cases, it is incumbent upon the petitioner to obtain prior permission from the jurisdictional Criminal Court by filing an appropriate application, in terms of the law laid down by the Full Bench of this Court. Unless such permission is obtained and produced before the Passport Authority, the respondent is unable to process the petitioner's request for issuance of a passport. 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONTP(MD)No.2111 of 2026 4. In the light of the above submission, this Court is of the view that no case of wilful disobedience of the order dated 02.03.2026 is made out against the respondent. Accordingly, the Contempt Petition is closed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional Criminal Court, obtain appropriate permission, and submit a copy of such order along with a fresh application before the first respondent, as contemplated under the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passport Manual. 5. On receipt of the order of the competent Criminal Court along with the petitioner's application, the first respondent shall consider the same on its own merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of such application. 24.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No TSG 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONTP(MD)No.2111 of 2026 To The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Street, Race Course Road, Madurai. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONTP(MD)No.2111 of 2026 M.DHANDAPANI, J. TSG CONT.P(MD)No.2111 of 2026 24.07.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis