1. The petitioner, who is the mother of a minor girl by name Sruthi, has come up with the above writ petition seeking the issue of a writ of mandamus to direct the respondents to issue a passport for her daughter, mentioning the name of the adoptive father of the minor girl.

2. I have heard Mr. G.K.Muthukumaar, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. N.Ramesh, learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents.

3. The petitioner married one M.Irudayaraj and the marriage was registered in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, Ambattur on 14.09.1998. A baby girl was born in the wedlock on 20.06.2001. The baby was named as "I.Karenshruthi" .

4. The marriage was short-lived and it was dissolved by a decree of divorce granted by the Second Additional Family Court, Chennai in F.C.O.P. No.1977 of 2002, by a decree dated 21.07.2003. Since the former husband of the petitioner did not file any appeal or revision against the decree, the decree attained finality. The petitioner is having the custody of the minor child for the past about 13 years, without any claim by her former husband.

5. After the decree of divorce, the petitioner changed the name of her daughter