JUDGMENT

Ritu Bahri, J. - Through the present petition, the petitioner is seeking directions in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to issue him the passport.

2. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the petitioner was issued passport No. M1654955 by Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Jalandhar-respondent no.2 (hereinafter referred to as `the respondent no.2') on 25.8.2014 which was valid till 24.8.2024. Since the above passport got damaged/mutilated, the petitioner applied for re-issuance of the said passport. The petitioner got involved in FIR No.58 dated 26.7.2016 under Section 22 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Talwandi Chaudhrian. The petitioner was granted interim bail vide order dated 9.9.2016 (Annexure P-4). The interim bail was made absolute vide order dated 20.2.2017 (Annexure P-5) after the report of the chemical examiner was received since the alleged recovery was of 100 grams of Nitrazepam which is non commercial in nature. However, the passport authorities have refused to re-issue the passport to the petitioner.

3. On notice, reply has been filed by way of affidavit on behalf of respondent no.2 i.e Regional Passport Of