1 APHC010241392026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3332] TUESDAY, THE 21st DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 12764/2026 Between: Venkatarao ...PETITIONER AND Union Of India and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. N RAVI PRASAD Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. P PADMAVATHI (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) 2 The Court made the following order: The short grievance of the petitioner is that the 2nd respondent is not considering and processing his passport application on the ground of pendency of Crime No.18/2014 at III Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam and that was pending before the learned Metropolitan Session Judge Court, Visakhapatnam and also S.C.No.10/2018 was pending on the file of learned Principal District & Sessions Judge Court, Vizianagaram. 2. Heard Sri Makireddy Manoj, learned counsel representing learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home. 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 learned Principal District & Sessions Judge Court, Vizianagaram. 4. Perusal of the material available on record shows that S.C.No.10/2018 was pending against the petitioner on the file of learned Principal District & Sessions Judge Court, Vizianagaram. 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 S.C.No.10/2018 was 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 admission stage itself. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to make an appropriate application before the learned Principal District & Sessions Judge Court, Vizianagaram for issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ for issuance/renewal of his Passport. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI 21.07.2026 BRS