Sanjeev Reddy Manda, vs Union Of India,
2025 Latest Caselaw 940 Tel

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 940 Tel
Judgement Date : 8 January, 2025

Telangana High Court

Sanjeev Reddy Manda, vs Union Of India, on 8 January, 2025

           THE HON'BLE JUSTICE MOUSHUMI BHATTACHARYA

                            WRIT PETITION NO.474 OF 2025
Sri Kanumuri Kalyani, learned counsel for the petitioner.

Ms.N.V.R. Rajya Lakshmi, learned counsel for the respondents. .

ORDER:

The present writ petition has been filed for a direction on the

respondent No.2/the Regional Passport Officer, to renew and

reissue the passport of the petitioner. The petitioner has also

challenged a communication issued by the said respondents on

13.12.2024 seeking clarification with regard to pending criminal

proceedings involving the petitioner.

2. The respondent authorities are represented.

3. 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 to 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 of passport provided that the petitioner is ready for

renewal of passport. In this case the petitioner is also ready to

cooperate with the Trial Court in concluding the trial. The

2020 Crl.L.J.(SC) 572

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petitioner before the Court is also willing to cooperate with the

pending proceedings. This Court also finds factual similarities

between Vangala Kasturi Rangacharyulu (supra) and the present

case where the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the Passport

Authority cannot refuse the renewal 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.

4. Accordingly, this Court is of the view that the Writ Petition

can be disposed of by directing the respondent No.2 to consider the

reply dated 30.12.2024 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 (supra).

The petitioner shall however be subject to the following conditions:

(i) The petitioner shall submit an undertaking along

with an affidavit before the learned Spl. Sessions for

Trial of Cases under SCs and STs(POA) Act,1989-

Cum-VII Additional District and Sessions Judge,

Ranga Reddy District, at L.B.Nagar in SC.No.219 of

2018 stating that the petitioner will not leave India

during pendency of the C.C. without permission of the

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Court and the petitioner 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