ORDER

Dated this the 12th day of July, 2024 The petitioner is the sole accused in S.C.No.509 of 2023 on the files of the Additional Sessions Court, Ernakulam, alleging commission of an offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B)

of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

2. The petitioner has already been released on bail. He sought permission to renew his passport. By the impugned order dated 13.06.2024, the learned Sessions Judge permitted the passport to be renewed but with a period of validity only one year. The said order is under challenge in this petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C..

3. I have heared Sri.Santhosh M.J, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Sri. Noushad the learned Public Prosecutor.

4. On a perusal of the impugned order, it is noticed that the learned Sessions Judge had initially permitted renewal of the passport for one year, but the petitioner could not travel abroad within that limited validity. Thereafter, he sought further renewal and by the impugned order, permission has been granted to renew the passport for a further period of one year again. It is noticed that the case is of the year 2023 and an immediate trial is almost impossible. In such circumstances, no purpose would be achieved by confining the period of validity of the passport only to one year. I am satisfied that the petitioner can be permitted to renew his passport with a validity of three years.

5. Accordingly, permission is granted to the petitioner to renew his passport for a period of three years, subject to the condition that he shall obtain permission from the Trial Court before travelling abroad.

The Crl.M.C. is disposed of as above.