JUDGMENT :

Mohit Kumar Shah, J.

The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 24.10.2017 passed by the Assistant Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Patna (Bihar) whereby and whereunder the passport of the petitioner herein has been impounded on account of pendency of a criminal case before a court of law, in terms of Section 10(3) (e) of the Passport Act, 1967. The petitioner has further prayed for directing the Assistant Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Patna (Bihar) to release the passport of the petitioner at the earliest.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is a person of repute inasmuch as he is at present a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Bihar and he has also served as a Vice-Chancellor of the Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour, Bhagalpur. It is submitted that while the petitioner was Vice-Chancellor of the aforesaid University, certain selection process had been undertaken for appointment of 280 Assistant Professors-cum- Junior Scientists in 20 subjects of Agriculture Faculty and after complaint was made regarding irregularities in the said appointment, an enquiry commissio