JUDGMENT

The petitioner was issued with Ext.P2 passport on 2.6.2002.

The said passport was renewed for a period from 1.5.2012 to 30.4.2022. The copy of the relevant page of the passport is produced as Ext.P3. The petitioner has applied for renewal of the said passport. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is an accused in C.C No.572/2005 pending before the Court of Judicial first Class Magistrate-III, Thiruvananthapuram which is now re-filed as C.C No.1280/2012. The counsel further submits that the application of the petitioner for renewal of passport is not considered citing the pendency of the said criminal case. It is also submitted that the VISA of the petitioner would expire on 28.2.2022 and if the passport is not renewed, the petitioner will lose his job abroad.

2. The Passports Act, 1967 provides for the issue of passports and travel documents, to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India and for other persons and for matters incidental or ancillary thereto. Section 5 of the Passports Act deals with applications for passports and travel documents and Section 6 deals with refusal of passports, travel documents etc. and Clause (f) of su