JUDGMENT :

D.V.S.S. SOMAYAJULU, J.

1. This Writ Petition is filed seeking a mandamus questioning the action of the 2 respondent in retaining the petitioner's passport bearing No. Z6412398 vide surrender Certificate dated 01.12.2021.

2. This Court has heard Sri. K. Chidambaram, learned counsel for the petitioner. He points out that the petitioner is the Chairman of a private medical college. He had a passport, which was valid till March, 2022. Thereafter, he made an application for renewal of the passport, and a new passport bearing No. Z6412398 was issued to the petitioner on 03.09.2021. The petitioner travelled abroad with his new passport and returned to India in the month of November, 2021. A show cause notice was issued to the petitioner stating that the respondents received an adverse police verification report against him. At request of respondents, the petitioner surrendered his passport on 01.12.2021 and the same was acknowledged by the 2 respondent vide surrender certificate dated 01.12.2021. Learned counsel for the petitioner argues on the basis of case law that the existence of the criminal cases is not a ground to seek surrender of the passport or not to renew the passport