2026:APHC:13968 APHC010064512026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3327]

AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 3857/2026 Between:

1. SMT. M. KOUSALYA, W/O MIDDE MADHAVA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, OCC HOMEMAKER, R/O H. NO. 1- 128, POST OFFICE ROAD, MAKKINAVARIGUDEM VILLAGE, T. NARSAPURAM MANDAL, ELURU DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 534456 ...PETITIONER AND

1. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI-110011.

2. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH- 530003

3. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, NEAR P. F. OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, MARRIPALEM VUDA LAY OUT, NAD POST, VISAKHAPATNAM, AP-530003.

4. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-

522503.

5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, T. NARSAPURAM POLICE STATION, ELURU DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH-534467.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased tomay be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of Respondent No.3 in not considering and disposing of my passport application bearing File No. VSB066257015526 for issuance of a fresh/new passport and having kept my aforesaid application for fresh/new passport on hold without deciding the same, as illegal, arbitrary, violative of Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and provisions of Passports Act, 1967 and rules framed thereunder and consequently direct respondent No.3 to issue Petitioners passport filed under File No VSB066257015526 for fresh/new passport thereof and pass such IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to direct the Respondent No.3 to issue Petitioner’s passport filed under File No: VSB066257015526 for fresh/new passport thereof, pending disposal of the above writ petition and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. GAJJALA MALLIKARJUNA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR HOME

2. PELLETI RAJESH KUMAR (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL)

The Court made the following ORDER:

The present writ petition has been filed questioning the action of 3^rd respondent in not considering the petitioner’s application, vide File No. VSB066257015526 dated 19.01.2026, and in not issuing a passport to her.

2. Case of the petitioner is that, she made an online application before the respondent authorities, bearing File No. VSB066257015526 dated 19.01.2026, for issuance of Passport. As there was no response from 3^rd respondent with regard to her passport application and her application status was showing “police verification report is not clear”, she was constrained to approach the office of 3^rd respondent and furnish details regarding the Criminal Case pending against her i.e., Crime No.308 of 2020 of T.Narsapuram Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 341 and 353 IPC, wherein a charge sheet was filed and the same is taken on file as C.C.No.215 of 2022 on the file of learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Chintalapudi. Petitioner stated that 3^rd respondent is not issuing passport on the ground of pendency of Criminal Case against the petitioner. Hence, she filed the present Writ Petition.

3. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home submitted that a Criminal Case is pending against the petitioner vide C.C.No.215 of 2022 on the file of learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Chintalapudi.

4. Section 5 of the Passports Act, 1967 deals with application for obtaining a passport. Section 6 thereof deals with refusa