Eligibility for passport renewal under exceptional circumstances of ongoing legal proceedings is recognized.

O R D E R Dated this the 23^rd day of February, 2026 The 1^st accused in CC. No.1257/2016 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Pattambi, arising out of Crime No.273/2016 of Thrithala Police Station, filed this Crl.M.C under Section 528 of the BNSS , being aggrieved by Annexure A5 order passed by the learned Magistrate dismissing his prayer for renewal of his passport. The petitioner is facing trial for the offences punishable under Section 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324, 326 and 447 r/w 149 of IPC.

2. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, he is working abroad and he left India with the permission granted by the jurisdictional Magistrate, as per Annexure A3 order. As per Annexure A3, his personal appearance before the learned Magistrate was exempted and he undertook to appear before the court as and when called for. Further, the learned Magistrate permitted him to go abroad for a period of one year. Now the one year period is about to expire on 26.02.2026. Though he filed Annexure A4 application seeking permission to renew his passport, for a further period, the same was dismissed as per Annexure A5 order. Therefore, the learned counsel for the petitioner sought for permission to renew his passport by another one year from

26.2.2026.

3. The learned Deputy Solicitor General of India submitted that in case the court directs, they will renew the passport. No serious objection was raised by the learned Public Prosecutor also.

4. Considering the fact that the petitioner was exempted from personal appearance before the learned Magistrate and he was already permitted to go abroad for attending his employment abroad, it is only just and proper to permit him to renew his passport for a further period of one year.

5. In the above circumstances, this Crl.M.C. is allowed. Annexure A5 order passed by the learned Magistrate is set aside. The petitioner is permitted to renew his passport for a further period of one year.

The respondents 3 and 4 are directed to renew the passport of the petitioner for a further period of one year from 26.2.2026, if he is otherwise eligible.

Sd/-