APHC010069992026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3327]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY, THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 3976/2026 Between:

1. HARINATHA REDDY ALLURI,, S/O.VENKATA RAMANA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, OCC. SOFTWARE ENGINEER, PERMANENT R/O.D.NO.46/1-MH-3A, MARUTHI HOMES, JOHARAPURAM ROAD, KURNOOL, KURNOOL DISTRICT. 518001. PRESENTLY R/O. 18001 ALLISON PARK PLACE, APT 305 TAMPA, FLORIDA, 33647, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ...PETITIONER AND

1. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, SOUTH BLOCK.

NEW DELHI - 110 001.

2. THE PASSPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA, REP., BY ITS CHIEF PASSPORT OFFICER, PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ROOM NO.8, PATIALA HOUSE, TILAK MARG, NEW DELHI - 110 001.

3. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REP., BY ITS REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, D.NO.27-37-158, 4TH FLOOR, STALIN CENTRAL, GOVERNORPET, M.G. ROAD, VIJAYAWADA - 520002 NTR DISTRICT, ERSTWHILE KRISHNA DISTRICT.

4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, RENTACHINTALA POLICE STATION, PALNADU DISTRICT, 522421 ...RESPONDENT(S):

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. RAMALAKSHMANA REDDY SANEPALLI Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. ALEKHYA TADASINA(CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL)

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 3976 of 2026

O R D E R:

This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief:

to issue a Writ, order or direction more “…

particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not renewing the petitioners Passport No.N6860075 in pursuance of Passport Application No.US9075907788225, dated 10-12-2025 by insisting the petitioner to get No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned court as illegal, arbitrary, violation of articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to renew the petitioners Passport No.N6860075 in pursuance of Passport Application NO.US9075907788225, dated 10-12-

2025 and pass …”

2. Contents of the affidavit filed by the writ petitioner, in brief, are that the writ petitioner obtained Passport bearing No. N6860075, which was valid from 12.01.2016 to 11.01.2026. As the writ petitioner’s passport expired on 11.01.2026, he made an application on 10.12.2025 vide Application No. US90759077- 88225 for renewal/reissue of the passport before 3^rd respondent authority along with all requisite documents. However, thereafter there was no update on the application made by the petitioner. On 05.01.2026, he sent an email to the Consulate General of India, Atlanta, for which the petitioner received a reply stating that an adverse police report had been received against him and that he was required to appear before the Consulate with all supporting documents between 12.01.2026 and 16.01.2026. It is further stated that a case in Crime No. 57 of 2025 of Rentachintala Police Station has been registered against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The said criminal case does not involve any allegation of violence, fraud, moral turpitude, national security, public order, or international ramifications. It is contended that mere pendency of a criminal case cannot be treated as an automatic disqualification for renewal or reissuance of a passport.

Hence, the Writ Petition.

3. During arguments, learned counsel for the Writ Petitioner reiterated the contentions raised in the writ affidavit.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for the Central Government appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 3 would contend that the Writ Petitioner suppressed the fact of registration of FIR in Crime No.57 of 2025 of Rentachintala Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, and that the writ petitioner was called upon, to furnish proper explanation regarding the circumstances under which he had supp