Passport applications for renewal must be processed without requiring No Objection Certificates from the Trial Court in pending criminal cases, per established legal precedents.

ORDER :

G.Arul Murugan, J.

The Writ Petition on hand has been instituted to direct the 2nd respondent to renew and re-issue a fresh passport without insisting for NOC from the Trial Court.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that passport bearing No.N0307054 which was issued on 25.06.2015, expires on 24.06.2025. Thus, he had made an application to the 2nd respondent on 11.12.2024 seeking for renewal of the passport.

3. It is further contended that during police verification, it came to light that a case in Crime No.3 of 2022 dated 09.02.2022 has been registered on the file of the 3rd respondent. Therefore, passport has not been issued on the ground that the petitioner has to obtain a NOC from the Trial Court.

4. Mr.S.Balaji, Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the 3rd respondent would submit that in a similar circumstance, the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in order dated 02.06.2023 made in WA.No.902 of 2023 has passed orders directing the respondents to process the application for renewal without insisting for permission from the Trial Court.

5. The Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in order dated 02.06.2023 made in WA.No.902 of 2023 has considered the similar issue and has directed the respondents to renew the passport, passed the following order, which reads as follows,

“In the light of the above, we pass the following order:

The writ appellant shall process the application of the first

(i) respondent for renewal of passport without insisting for permission of the Court, where a criminal case is pending against the first respondent. If the first respondent is travelling abroad, then the first respondent would be required to seek permission from the Court where the criminal case is pending.

(ii) Decision shall be taken as above, within one month.”

6. In view of the same, the 3rd respondent is directed to process the application of the petitioner for renewal of the passport without insisting for NOC from the Trial Court where criminal case is pending. However, when the petitioner travels abroad, he has to seek permission from the Court concerned.

7. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, stand closed.