[Cites 2, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
S.K.P.Murugan vs The Regional Passport Officer on 18 March, 2026
Author: D.Bharatha Chakravarthy
Bench: D.Bharatha Chakravarthy
W.P.(MD)No.7428 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 18.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY
W.P.(MD)No.7428 of 2026
S.K.P.Murugan ... Petitioner
-vs-
The Regional Passport Officer,
Regional Passport Office,
Bharathi Ula Veethi,
Race Course Road, Madurai. ... Respondent
PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to
issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's
representation dated 16.09.2025 and re-issue the passport for the normal period of
10 years as per Section 12(1) of the Passports Act, 1967, by correcting validity
period and the date of birth as 16.03.1965 in respect of Passport Application
No.MD1077275672725, dated 27.12.2024 and pass appropriate orders within a
time stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Niresh Kumar
For Respondent : Mr.Sathis Kumar
Standing Counsel
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W.P.(MD)No.7428 of 2026
ORDER
The writ petition is filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the
respondent to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 16.09.2025 and re-
issue the passport for the normal period of ten years, in accordance with Section
12(1) of the Passports Act, 1967.
2. When the matter came up for hearing, Mr.Sathis Kumar, learned
Standing Counsel, taking notice on behalf of the respondent, submitted that
C.C.No.185 of 2024 is pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court,
Ottapidaram. It was further submitted that even if the passport is re-issued, it
should be granted only on a year-to-year basis in view of the Government of India
instructions.
3. In reply, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
Division Bench of this Court has considered a similar issue in Aynul Yakheen
Ibrahim v. The Regional Passport Officer, Madurai [W.A.(MD)No.303 of
2025, dated 25.03.2025], and, considering the difficulties faced by persons like
the petitioner who travel abroad for work, it directed renewal for five years
instead of year-to-year.
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4. In view of the above, the mere pendency of a criminal case cannot be a
fetter. If there is no other legal impediment, the passport may be re-issued to the
petitioner.
5. Accordingly, this Court is inclined to dispose of this writ petition on the
following terms:
(i) The respondent shall consider the petitioner’s representation dated
16.09.2025 and Application No.MD1077275672725, dated 27.12.2024, and re-
issue the passport with a validity of five years.
(ii) When the petitioner intends to travel abroad, he shall obtain permission
from the Trial Court, and thereafter, may travel in accordance with law.
6. At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner also brought to the
notice of this Court that the date of birth of the petitioner is incorrectly entered in
the passport, whereas the correct date has been mentioned in the application.
7. The learned Standing Counsel submitted that the authorities are required
to consider the documents submitted at the time of the previous passport
application. The issue of correcting the date of birth may also be considered while
re-issuing the passport, and a decision shall be made in accordance with law.
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8. The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs.
18.03.2026
Neutral Citation : No
smn2
To:-
The Regional Passport Officer,
Regional Passport Office,
Bharathi Ula Veethi,
Race Course Road, Madurai.
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D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.
smn2
18.03.2026
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