APHC010360602026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE 21 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 19752/2026 Between: 1. SMT. NAGALAKSHMI BODAKA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, RESIDENT OF FLAT NO. 301, VIGNESHWARA PRANATHI REDDY APARTMENT, VIDYA NAGAR COLONY EXTENSION, PERUR, TIRUPATI ANDHRA PRADESH 1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS PASSPORT OFFICER, PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER (RPO), GOVERNORPET, M.G. ROAD, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH 3. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER SHO, PUNGANUR URBAN POLICE STATION, CHITTOOR DISTRICT Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High may be pleased to issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents more particularly Respondent No. 2, in not issuing a fresh IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE 21st DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 19752/2026 SMT. NAGALAKSHMI YETUKURI, W/O. SREENIVASULU BODAKA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, RESIDENT OF FLAT NO. 301, VIGNESHWARA PRANATHI REDDY APARTMENT, VIDYA NAGAR COLONY EXTENSION, PERUR, TIRUPATI - ANDHRA PRADESH ...PETITIONER AND THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, CENTRAL PASSPORT OFFICER, PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI - 110001 THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER (RPO), GOVERNORPET, M.G. ROAD, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH - 520002. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER SHO, PUNGANUR URBAN POLICE STATION, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517247 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High may be pleased to issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents more particularly Respondent No. 2, in not issuing a fresh [3332] THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI YETUKURI, W/O. SREENIVASULU BODAKA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, RESIDENT OF FLAT NO. 301, VIGNESHWARA PRANATHI REDDY APARTMENT, VIDYA 517502, ...PETITIONER SECRETARY, CENTRAL PASSPORT OFFICER, PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF 110001 THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER (RPO), GOVERNORPET, M.G. ROAD, THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER SHO, PUNGANUR URBAN ...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 issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents more particularly Respondent No. 2, in not issuing a fresh 2 passport to the petitioner, vide Application No. VJ1066896084526 dated 29.05.2026 ground that IA NO: 1 OF 2026 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 above respondents to approve the pending application of the petitioner for issuance of new passport vide Application No. VJ106689608452 6, dated 29.05.2026 or alternatively subject that to such condition is pending main Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. ELURU SESHA MAHESH BABU Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. The Court made the following: 3 ORDER: The grievance of the petitioner, in short, is that the passport authorities are not considering her passport application, on the ground of registration of criminal case against her, despite submission of her explanation to the letter issued by the 2nd respondent, to the effect that mere registration of a crime cannot be a ground for refusal of renewal of passport. 2. Heard Sri Pathi Siva Prasad, learned counsel representing Sri Eluru Mahesh Babu, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri V.Farook, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home for respondents. 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 I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chittoor. 4. Perusal of the material available on record shows that SC.SPL.No.61 of 2021 is pending against the petitioner on the file of the Court of I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chittoor. 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 a passport would thereafter depend upon the 4 concerned Court granting No Objection Certificate or appropriate permission. 6. Taking the facts and circumstances of the case into consideration and having regard to the fact that SC.SPL.No.61 of 2021 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 I Additional District & Sessions Judge, Chittoor, for issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ for issuance of her Passport. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI Date: 21st July, 2026 RKS