The petitioner has come up with the above writ petition, challenging the order passed by the Regional Passport Officer, refusing to re-issue the Passport for the petitioner, on the ground that there are several criminal complaints pending against him and that the petitioner suppressed information about the same.

2. I have heard Mr. AR.L. Sundaresan, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. K. Ravindranath, learned Central Government Standing Counsel, appearing for the Respondent.

3. The petitioner first applied for a fresh Passport under Tatkal Scheme on 01.08.2007. Therefore, his application was processed, on Post-Police Verification Report basis and a Passport was issued on 07.08.2007 with a period of validity till 06.08.2017. Subsequently, the Police Verification Report dated 01.08.2007 came and it disclosed that a criminal case was pending against the petitioner in Crime No.61/2006 on the file of the Red Hills Police Station. Therefore, the Commissioner of Police did not recommend the issue of the Passport.

4. The petitioner applied for re-issue of Passport with a seal of ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required), on 08.05.2013. In the Police Verification Report date