JUDGMENT

Petitioner was the holder of an Indian passport bearing No.J1494880 which was valid till 22.12.2020. After the expiry of the said passport, he applied for renewal. However, by Ext.P7 letter, the passport issuing authority rejected the application, stating that the response of the petitioner to the objection letter sent by the passport office was not satisfactory. Petitioner has challenged Ext.P7 in this writ petition.

2. A statement has been filed on behalf of the respondents in which the Regional Passport Officer, Cochin has stated that the petitioner was the holder of a passport originally issued on 14.03.2005 with the number F2167178. However, on 27.03.2008 when the petitioner reached Cochin International Airport, the immigration authorities seized the said passport on noticing tampering with the date of birth. Thereafter, petitioner remitted Rs.5,000/- as penalty and he was issued with a duplicate passport on

23.12.2010 with the number J1494880, after cancelling the tampered passport. The respondents however stated that while the application for renewal of the duplicate passport was being processed, they came to know that the petitioner had obtained another passport dated