RAJAN GUPTA, J.

1. The petitioner has preferred this writ petition with a prayer for quashing of letter/order dated 14th August, 2006 whereby it was communicated to him by the Passport Officer, Jalandhar that a decision had been taken not to issue passport to him for a period of five years from the date of receipt of letter by him. The petitioner has impugned the said decision and has also sought a writ of mandamus for a direction to the respondents to issue a passport to him.

2. The petitioner has stated that he was issued a passport bearing No. R680357 on 23rd December, 1993. Thereafter, the petitioner went to Berlin in Germany and sought a political asylum there. However, the german Government refused political asylum to the petitioner. As a result, he had to travel back on emergency certificate dated 14th november, 2005 and he arrived at New Delhi on 3rd February, 2006. According to the petitioner, he applied for issuance of a duplicate passport on 22nd February, 2006 as he had lost his earlier passport. This request was, however, declined on 14th August, 2006.

3. In reply, the respondents have stated that the petitioner had applied for political asylum in Germany which