APHC010204722026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3207] FRIDAY, THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND WRIT PETITION NO: 11197/2026 Between: 1. KAMBAM SIVA PRASANTH, S/O THIRUPAL REDDY AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS R/O D. NO. C-514, HOUSING BOARD COLONY YERRAMUKKAPALLI, KADAPA TOWN Y.S.R KADAPA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, NEW DELHI. 110001. 2. THE JOINT SECRETARY PSP AND CHIEF PASSPORT OFFICER, PASSPORT SEVA, PROGRAMME DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ROOM NO 27, PATIALA HOUSE, TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI 110001. 3. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE VISAKHAPATNAM, NEAR P.F. OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, MARARIPALEM, VUDA LAYOUT, NAD POST, VISAKHAPATNAM- 530009, ANDHRA PRADESH. 4. THE PASSPORT OFFICER, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, VIJAYAWADA- II M.G. ROAD (BUNDAR ROAD) VIJAYAWADA.520010 5. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT 515001 6. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, D. HIREHAL POLICE STATION ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 515001 ...RESPONDENT(S): 2 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 an appropriate Writ, Order, or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the Respondent No. 3 in issuing the Petitioner's passport with a validity of only one year instead of ten years, despite compliance with all legal requirements and obtaining orders from the competent court, as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and contrary to the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 and the Rules made thereunder Consequently, direct the Respondents to renew/re-issue the passport of the Petitioner bearing No. K1829262 with a validity of ten (10) years and to pass 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 Respondents to forthwith extend the validity of the Petitioner's passport bearing No. K1829262 for a period of ten (10) years pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. RAMALAKSHMANA REDDY SANEPALLI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. Ms. Neeru Mishra (Central Government Counsel) The Court made the following: 3 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND WRIT PETITION No.11197 of 2026 ORDER: - It is brought to the notice of this Court by both the learned counsel that the subject matter of this writ petition is squarely covered by the common order passed by this Court in W.P.No.5769 of 2026 and batch, dated 07.04.2026, which is as follows: “9. Accordingly, these writ petitions are allowed with the following direction: The Passport Authorities to consider and pass appropriate orders on the applications submitted by the petitioners for issuance of passports or re-issuance of passports or renewal of passports, for a period of ten (10) years, under Section 10 of the Passports Act, 1967 and under Rule 12 of Passport Rules, 1980 and also the Gazette Notification issued by the Central Government vide GSR No.570(E), dated 25.08.1993, without reference to the criminal proceedings pending against the petitioners before the concerned Courts, subject to the following conditions: (i) The petitioners shall submit an undertaking, along with an affidavit affirming that he/she will not leave the country during the pendency of the criminal proceedings, pending against them without permission of the courts having jurisdiction and that he/she will co- operate with concerned trial court in concluding the proceedings. (ii) On filing such an undertaking as well as affidavit, the concerned trial court shall issue a certified copy of the same within two (02) weeks. 4 (iii) The petitioners shall submit the certified copy of the aforesaid undertaking before the respondent-Passport Officer for issuance of passport or re-issuance or renewal of his/her passport. (iv) The respondent-Passport Officer shall consider the said application in the light of the observations made by this Court herein as well as the contents of the undertaking given by the petitioners for issuance of passport or re-issuance or renewal of his/her passport in accordance with law, within two (02) weeks from the date of said application. (v) On renewal of the passport, the petitioners shall deposit the original renewed Passport before the concerned trial court. (vi) The petitioners shall file an application before the concerned trial Court seeking permission to travel abroad. (vii) The concerned trial Court shall consider the same, in accordance with law.” 2. Hence, following the said orders, this writ petition is allowed on the same terms. 3. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. _________________________ JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND Date : 24.04.2026 PGR 5 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND W.P.No.11197 of 2026 Date: 24.04.2026 PGR