JUDGMENT :

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's online application dated 02.01.2024 and re-issue/renew the Petitioner's passport bearing No.Z6044131 for the normal period of ten years from 05.03.2024 as per Rule 12(1) of the Passport Rules, 1980 within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court.)

1. The petitioner is the holder of passport bearing No.Z2825031, issued on 06.03.2014 with validity till 05.03.2024. He is a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) having been duly elected from the Sivagangai Constituency in the general elections held in 2019.

2. As per the counter filed by the Regional Passport Officer, Chennai, sole respondent, there are six cases pending as against the petitioner, details of which are below:

i. FIR No.RC-DAI 2011-A-0022 (Charge sheet filed & taken cognizance by Spl. Judge (PC Act), CBI-09 (MP’s/MLA’s cases), Rouse Courts, New Delhi)

ii. ECIR/05/DZ/2012/DD(RS)/1286-87/2012 (Charge sheet filed & taken cognizance by Spl. Judge (PC Act), CBI-09 (MP’s/MLA’s cases), Rouse Courts, New Delhi)

iii. FIR No.RC 220 2017 E 0011 (Charge sheet filed