VIBHU BAKHRU, J.

1. The petitioner has filed the present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for renewal of his passport bearing no. G1149580 and seeking direction to the respondent to issue a fresh passport.

2. The petitioner is an Indian Citizen and is working as a truck driver in Canada on a legal work permit. On 16.09.2016, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Canada informed that the petitioner had been nominated under the Canada Provincial Nominee Program for permanent resident status.

3. On 28.10.2016, the petitioner applied for renewal of his passport at the Indian Consulate at Vancouver.

4. The respondent states that while processing the petitioner’s application for renewal of the passport, it was found that another passport (bearing no. P2161269), which was valid from 13.04.2016 to 12.04.2026 had been issued by the Consulate General of India (CGI), Atlanta. It is stated in the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondent that further inquiries revealed that one Sh. Jagdip Singh Dhillon, who is the brother-in-law of the petitioner, had manipulated the passport service sub syste