2026:APHC:40335 APHC010086522026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3327]

AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

THURSDAY,THE TWELFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 4872/2026 Between:

1. YENDRAPALLI SRINIVASA RAO, S/O KOTESWARA RAO, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/O 26-36-30, LINE-3, ANKAMMA NAGAR, GUNTUR URBAN A.P-522004.

...PETITIONER AND

1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP BY ITS SECRETARY THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS E BLOCK, CENTRAL SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI, DELHI 110001

2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, OFFICE OF REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER 4TH FLOOR, STALIN CENTRAL, D. NO. 27-37-150, GOVERNOR PET, M.G. ROAD, VIJAYAWADA - 520002, ANDHRA PRADESH.

RPO.VIJAYAWADA@MEA.GOV.IN

3. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522503.

4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, PATTABHIPURAM POLICE STATION GUNTUR URBAN, ANDHRA PRADESH-522006

5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, NAGARAMPALEM POLICE STATION GUNTUR URBAN, ANDHRA PRADESH-522004 ...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 to issue Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2^nd respondent in not processing the petitioners passport application bearing File No. VJ2076385635726 on the ground of a pending criminal case vide Crime No. 162/2013 before 4^th respondent as illegal, arbitrary, irrational, irregular, and in violation of the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, and the Rules framed there under, as well as Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India, and contrary to the settled principles of natural justice. Consequently, direct the 2^nd respondent to process the petitioners passport application and issue the passport in accordance with law, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Honble Court and to 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 to grant interim direction to direct the 2^nd respondent to process the petitioner’s passport application and issue the passport in accordance with law, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Hon’ble Court forth with pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. PONNEKANTI MALLIKARJUNA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR HOME

2. M MADAALASA CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL The Court made the following Order:

The present Writ Petition has been filed questioning the action of the respondent authorities in not processing the petitioner’s Passport application bearing No.VJ2076385635726.

2. Case of the petitioner is that he made an online application bearing No.VJ2076385635726, seeking for issuance of passport. However, the application of the petitioner was not processed by the respondent authorities on the ground that a case in Crime No.162 of 2013 at Pattabhipuram Police Station is pending against him for the offence under Section 420 of IPC. Aggrieved by the non-consideration of his application, the petitioner has approached this Court.

3. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home submitted that the case in Crime No.162 of 2013 of Pattabhipuram Police Station is at the stage of investigation.

4. Perused the entire material available on record.

5. A perusal of entire material on record goes to show that the petitioner herein was involved in Crime No.162 of 2013 of Pattabhipuram Police Station, registered for the offence under Section 420 of IPC.

6. It is the contention of learned counsel for Writ Petitioner that the Writ Petitioner was falsely implicated in Crime No.162 of 2013 and no other criminal proceedings are pending against the petitioner before any Court as on date. 7. It is the specific contention of Writ Petitioner that t