Kerala High Court
Ratheesh T vs Additional Secretary on 23 August, 2025
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
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2025:KER:64254
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
SATURDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF AUGUST 2025 / 1ST BHADRA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
RATHEESH T.,
AGED 41 YEARS
S/O. CHANDRAN, THEKKOOT HOUSE,
AYYANTHOL P.O., KRISHNAPILLAI NAGAR
TRA 119, THRISSUR, PIN - 680003
BY ADV SMT.SANDHYA RAJU
RESPONDENTS:
1 ADDITIONAL SECRETARY,
(PASSPORT SEVA PROJECT) AND CHIEF PASSPORT OFFICER,
PASSPORT SEVA PROJECT DIVISION,
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
ROOM NO. 27, PATIALA HOUSE,
TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
2 THE DEPUTY PASSPORT OFFICER,
(OPERATIONS),PASSPORT SEVA PROJECT DIVISION,
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, PATIALA HOUSE,
TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
3 THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER,
KOCHI, PANAMPILLY NAGAR P.O.,
COCHIN, KERALA, PIN - 682036
4 THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER,
PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
PATIALA HOUSE, TILAK MARG,
NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
5 THE OFFICER ON SPECIAL DUTY,
(PASSPORT SEVA PROJECT) AND PROJECT DIRECTOR,
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
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PASSPORT SEVA PROJECT DIVISION,
TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
6 MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
PATIALA HOUSE, TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI,
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, PIN - 110001
BY ADV SHRI.C.DINESH, CGC
OTHER PRESENT:
SMT. O.M. SHALINA, DSGI.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
23.08.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
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JUDGMENT
This writ petition is filed with the following prayers;
" i.That this Hon'ble court may be pleased to direct the 2 nd
respondent to issue the refund in the interest of justice;
ii.That this Hon'ble court may be pleased to make
appropriate provision for online application of refund in
conformity with the statutory provision the interest of justice.
iii.That this Honble court may declare any rule/circular
issued not in conformity with the Statutory provisions as
being null and void. directing the state to adhere to the
iv.Any other relief as this court may deem fit.
v.Cost."
2. A statement has been filed on behalf of the respondents 1 to
6, which reads as follows;
" The very same day, i.e. 22.03.2024 email was sent
informing the applicant to visit the office of this respondent in
order to complete the formalities regarding refund of fees as
contemplated in para 5.1. of the procedure for refund of
passport fees laid down in the Passport Manual. True copy of the
email dated 22.03.2024, informing the petitioner for the
completion of formalities as per the Passport Manual, is
produced herewith and may be marked as Exhibit R3(d).
On 02.04.2024, the applicant sent a reply with no
content and only tagging Exhibit R3(d) with it. True copy of the
email dated 02.04.2024 received by this respondent from the
petitioner side is produced herewith and may be marked as
Exhibit R3(e).
It is submitted that on 12.04.2024, this respondent
again received an email from the side of the petitioner with no
content but only attaching Exhibit R3(a) This respondent
informed the petitioner by way of Email that a reply has already
been sent to him vide email dated 02/04/2024. True copy of the
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
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reply email dated 02.04.2025 send by this respondent informing
the same was produced herewith and may be marked as Exhibit
R3(f)."
3. The above statements are recorded. In view of the above,
there will be a direction to the petitioner to approach the 3 rd
respondent as directed in Exts.R3(d) to R3(f). On the petitioner
approaching the 3rd respondent and completing the formalities, as laid
down in paragraph 5(1) of the procedure for refund of passport fees
laid down in the passport manual, the 3 rd respondent will refund the
eligible amount without further delay.
The writ petition is disposed of as above.
Sd/-
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
JUDGE
LU
WP(C) NO. 15419 OF 2025
2025:KER:64254
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15419/2025
PETITIONER EXHIBITS :
EXHIBIT P1 A COPY OF THE ONLINE APPOINTMENT RECEIPT
DATED 24/2/2024 SUBMITTED BEFORE THE 6TH
RESPONDENT
EXHIBIT P2 A COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 16/5/2024
SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER
EXHIBIT P3 A COPY OF THE SCREENSHOT OF THE PASSPORT SEVA
KENDRA WEBSITE
RESPONDENT EXHIBITS :
EXHIBIT R3(A) TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL REGARDING THE REQUEST
FOR REFUND OF PASSPORT DATED 07.03.2024
EXHIBIT R3(B) TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL SENT BY THIS
RESPONDENT TO THE CLUSTER HEAD, TCS, DATED
22.03.2024
EXHIBIT R3(C) TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY EMAIL BY THE CLUSTER
HEAD, TCS, CONFIRMING THE PAYMENT DATED
22.03.2024
EXHIBIT R3(D) TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL DATED 22.03.2024,
INFORMING THE PETITIONER FOR THE COMPLETION
OF FORMALITIES AS PER THE PASSPORT MANUAL
EXHIBIT R3(E) TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL DATED 02.04.2024
RECEIVED BY THIS RESPONDENT FROM THE
PETITIONER SIDE
EXHIBIT R3(F) TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY EMAIL DATED 02.04.2025
// True Copy // PA To Judge
