JUDGMENT :

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to issue a passport to the petitioner based on his application in File Number. MD1062443028719 within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this Court.)

This writ petition has been filed for issuance of a direction, directing the 1st respondent to issue a passport to the petitioner based on his application in File Number. MD1062443028719.

2. The petitioner is a resident of Melur Taluk, Madurai District. He applied for a passport with the first respondent. After police verification, the first respondent sought for clarification as to the pendency of Cr.No.161 of 2015, which was registered under Section 379 IPC and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 on the file of the Kottampatti Police Station. Pursuant to the same, the petitioner appeared in person and submitted his explanation on 27.9.2019. Till date, the first respondent has not issued the passport on the ground that criminal case is pending.

3. According to the petitioner, the crime number is still in F.I.R stage and no charge-sheet has been