JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to extend her husband''s new passport No.X9923507 for remaining period of her husband''s earlier old passport No.U4807576 based on her husband''s online application No.ARN:23-2002513958 dated 19.06.2023 to the High Commission of India, Wisma Hrih Lotus, Level 1, 442, Jalan Pahang, Setapak 53000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)

1. The petitioner''s husband, Balamurugan, obtained a passport in the year 2020, with validity upto 22.10.2030. The petitioner''s husband is working at Malaysia. He lost his passport and applied for a fresh one. That application was not considered, in view of the pendency of a criminal case. Therefore, the petitioner''s husband approached this Court by filing WP(MD)No.5115 of 2023. This Court, after taking note of the fact that a criminal case is pending against the petitioner''s husband in STC.No.75 of 2021 before the Judicial Magistrate Court, Melur, by order dated 20.03.2023, directed the Passport Authority to issue a fresh passport to the petitioner''s husband within a period of six weeks. Accordingly, a fresh