APHC010071742026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3327]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

MONDAY, THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 4244/2026 Between:

1. MAREDDY RAVINDRANATH REDDY @ B TECH RAVI, EX.

M.L.C S/O. KRISHNA REDDY, R/O. CHOWDAMMA TEMPLE STREET SIMHADRIPURAM MANDAL, KADAPA DISTRICT ...PETITIONER A N D

1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SOUTH BLOCK, SECRETARIAT, RAISINA HILL, NEW DELHI, INDIA. 110004

2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, GJ3M PLUS X9M, VENKATESWARA THEATRE COMPLEX MG RD, OPP. RADIO STATION, VIJAYAWADA ANDHRA PRADESH 520610 ...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 a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in renewing the petitioner's passport bearing No. AH999657 for a period of one year instead of ten years, pursuant to the order dated 08-01-2026 in Crl.M.p.No.3 of 2026 in Crime no. 21 of 2023 on the file of Hon'ble I Additional Judicial Magistrate of I Class, Kadapa, and orders dated. 04-08-2025 passed in CrI.M.P.No 1321 of 2025, in Spl.SC.No.26 of 2022 on the file of Special sessions judge for the trial of offences under SC/ST(POA) Act cases-cum-IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kadapa as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to Section 7 of the Passports Act, 1967, Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980, violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the 2nd respondent to renew the petitioner's passport no. AH999657 a period of ten (10) years, in accordance with law and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. PILLIX LAW FIRM Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.

The Court made the following:

O R D E R

This Writ Petition was filed seeking the following relief:

“…to issue a Writ or Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondents particularly, 2^nd respondent in renewing the petitioner’s Passport vide Passport No:AH99657 for a period of One year instead of Ten years, pursuant to the Order dated 08.01.2026 in Crl.M.P.No.3 of 2026 in Crime No.21 of 2023 on the file of the I Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kadapa and Order dated 04.08.2025 passed in Crl.M.P.No.1321 of 2025 in Special S.C.No.26 of 2022 on the file of the Special Sessions Judge for Trial of Offences under SCs/STs (PoA) Act Cases-cum-IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kadapa as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to Section 7 of the Passports Act, 1967, Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980, violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently, direct 2^nd respondent to renew the petitioner’s Passport No.AH999657 a period of Ten (10) years in accordance with law and pass such other order or orders …”

2. Contents of the affidavit filed by the Writ Petitioner, in brief, are that the Writ Petitioner is a former Member of Legislative Council. The Writ Petitioner was issued Passport bearing No.X3840053 on 29.02.2024 and it expired on 28.02.2025. The Writ Petitioner approached respondent No.2 and made an application vide File No.VJ2077334682525 for renewal; that pursuant to the renewal application, respondent No.2 issued show-cause notice dated 24.12.2025 calling upon explanation from the Writ Petitioner stating that an adverse report was received against the Writ Petitioner that Spl. Sessions Case No.26 of 2022 on the file of the Special Sessions Judge for trial of Offences under the SCs & STs (PoA) Act Cases, 1989-cum-IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kadapa, arising out of a case in Crime No.494 of 2020 of Pulivendula U/G Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 3 (1) (r) (s) of the Scheduled Castes a