IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 12-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI S.Ajay S/o.Selvaraj No.6/70,North street Krishnapuram Post Veppanthattai Taluk Perambalur District Tamilnadu-621 116 ..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Regional Passport Officer Trichirappalli, New Municipal complex, Thillai Nagar, 7th cross, Thiruchirappalli-620 018

2. State Rep by the Inspector of Police Arumbavur police station Perambalur ..Respondent(s)

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1^st respondent to consider the petitioner’s passport application bearing No.(ARN) 26 - 1052883476 dated 26.2.2026 and consequently, direct the 1st respondent to issue passport to the petitioner without reference to the pendency of Cr.No.977 of 2024.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Ajay [Party-in-Person]

For Respondent(s): Mr.Subbu Rangabharathi for R1 Mr.V.Meganathan for R2 Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

With consent on either side, the main Writ Petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage.

2. This Writ Petition has been filed to direct the 1^st respondent to consider the petitioner’s passport application bearing No.(ARN) 26 - 1052883476 dated 26.2.2026 and consequently, direct the 1st respondent to issue passport to the petitioner without reference to the pendency of Cr.No.977 of 2024.

3. According to the petitioner, the petitioner had applied for a fresh passport under the normal category through online mode and thereafter, the petitioner was allotted an appointment on 27.02.2026 at 1.00 p.m., and the petitioner reported and completed all the necessary formalities. The petitioner was informed orally that his application was kept on hold due to the pendency of a criminal case. Further, the petitioner has been arrayed as an accused in Cr.No.977 of 2024 pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.II, Tindivanam and the petitioner neither received any summons nor order has been passed by the learned magistrate imposing any condition, hence the petitioner has come up with the present Writ petition.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as this Court in several judgments held that pendency of a criminal case is not a valid ground to deny the issuance of passport. Further, unless there is a specific judicial embargo, the passport application cannot be denied or withheld merely because a criminal case is pending, thereby pleaded to allow the present Writ Petition.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the 1^st respondent as well as the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the 2^nd respondent would submit that appropriate authority to consider the representation of the petitioner is the 1^st respondent, therefore, a direction and sufficient time may be granted to the 1^st respondent to consider the case of the petitioner.

6. In view of the limited prayer sought for by the petitioner, without going into the merits of the case, this Court hereby directs the 1^st respondent to consider the application of the petitioner in (ARN) 26 - 1052883476 dated 26.2.2026 on merits and pass appropriate orders within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order.

With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs

12-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No ssd To

1. The Regional Passport Officer Trichirappalli New Municipal complex, Thillai Nagar, 7th cross Thiruchirappalli-620 018

2. State Rep by the Inspector of Police Arumbavur police station Perambalur M.DHANDAPANI, J.

ssd

12-03-2026