Telangana High Court
Lalitha Kumari Madisetty vs Union Of India on 17 February, 2025
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE J.SREENIVAS RAO
WRIT PETITION No.4459 OF 2025
ORDER:
This writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:
" ... to issue a Writ Order or direction more particularly
one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of
Respondent No.2 in not renewing/reissuing the Petitioners
passport upon her application vide HY2077004379524 dated
08.10.2024 and refusing to renew the Petitioners passport vide
letter dated 17.12.2024 as illegal, arbitrary and violative of
Articles 14, 16, 21 and 300A of Constitution of India and
consequently set aside the refusal order dated 17.12.2024 and
direct the Respondent No.2 to renew/reissue the Petitioners
passport vide M8290732 in the interest of justice."
2. Heard Ms.D.Samhitha, learned counsel representing
Sri Midhun Kumar Allu, learned counsel for the petitioner and
Sri G.Praveen Kumar, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India,
for respondents.
3. With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, the
writ petition is being disposed of at the stage of admission.
4. After hearing learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
as well as the respondents, it appears that the issue was
considered by 2 Co-ordinate Benches in W.P.Nos.8697 of 2023
and 22218 of 2024. Both the learned Single Judges referred the
Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgment in Vangala Kasturi
Rangacharyulu v. Central Bureau of Investigation 1 and
came to the finding that mere pendency of criminal case cannot
be a ground to decline the renewal/reissue of passport provided
that the petitioner is ready for renewal/reissue of passport. In
this case the petitioner is also ready to cooperate with the Trial
Court in concluding the trial and he is also willing to cooperate
with the pending proceedings. In Vangala Kasturi
Rangacharyulu (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that
the Passport Authority cannot refuse the release of passport on
the ground of pendency of criminal proceedings and accordingly
directed the Passport Authority to renew the passport of the
petitioner without raising objection relating to pendency of
criminal proceedings.
5. This Court is accordingly of the view that the Writ Petition
can be disposed of by directing the petitioner to submit a reply
to the letter dated 17.12.2024. The respondent No.2 shall
consider the reply submitted by the petitioner and take steps for
renewal of the passport in due compliance of the findings of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in Vangala Kasturi Rangacharyulu
1 2020 Crl.L.J.(SC) 572
(supra). The directions are as follows:
(i) The petitioner shall submit an undertaking along with
an affidavit before the learned I Additional Junior Civil
Judge, Narsaraopeta, Andhra Pradesh in C.C.No.227 of
2024 stating that she will not leave India during pendency
of the C.C. without permission of the Court and she will
cooperate with the Trial Court in concluding the criminal
proceedings.
(ii) The Trial Court shall issue a certified copy of the
undertaking and affidavit within 2 weeks from the date of
filing of the undertaking.
(iii) The petitioner shall submit the certified copy of the
aforesaid undertaking along with the reply/ explanation
before the concerned Passport Officer for consideration of
her application for release of passport.
(iv) The Passport Authority shall consider the documents
in the light of the observations made by the Courts as well
as the undertaking and other documents filed by the
petitioner. The petitioner shall also be at liberty to rely on
the decisions in this regard. The petitioner shall deposit
the original passport before the trial Court in criminal case
for renewal of the passport. The petitioner shall at liberty
to file an application before the learned I Additional Junior
Civil Judge, Narsaraopeta, Andhra Pradesh seeking
permission to travel outside India and the learned
Magistrate, shall consider the same in accordance with
law.
6. With the above observations, the Writ Petition is disposed
of. No costs.
Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this writ
petition shall stand closed. There shall be order as to costs.
_______________________
J. SREENIVAS RAO, J
Date: 17.02.2025
Note: Issue CC in two days
b/o
vsl
