ORDER :

The petitioner is before this Court seeking a direction by issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus, to consider the petitioner’s application for renewal/re-issuance of his passport.

2. Heard Sri Dhananjay Joshi, learned senior counsel along with Sri Kashyap N.Naik, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Priyanka S. Bhat, learned Central Government Counsel for the respondent.

3. Facts in brief, germane are as follows :

The petitioner claims to be a lawyer by profession, registered himself with the Bar Council of Karnataka. Petitioner also claims to have registered in New York State Bar of the United States. He is said to be holding a passport issued by the Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru, on 05.04.2013, which was valid till 04.04.2023. Six months prior to the expiry of the passport, the petitioner submits an application seeking renewal/re-issuance of passport.

4. In consideration of the application, a police verification process is undertaken for such re-issuance/renewal. It is averred that during the police verification, it is known that the petitioner is embroiled in three proceedings. One M.C.No.2679/2022 which was initiated at Bengaluru against his wife, is n