BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR and W.M.P.(MD)No.4075 of 2026 A.Antris Janet, Minor represented by her mother natural guardian, S.Anna Venus. ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai - 625 002.

2.W.Antro Benson ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to Letter Ref.No.FCL/317974561/24 dated 17.05.2024 and Letter No.FCL/321418143/25 dated 25.04.2025 and to quash the same as illegal and unconstitutional, consequently direct the

1st respondent to process the passport application vide File No.MD2065880790923 of the petitioner and issue passport in accordance with law, without insisting for consent from father, within a time frame as may be stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner :Mr.G.Aravinthan, For M/s.Aran Legal Consultancy.

For Respondents :Mr.G.Vishnuram, Central Govt. Standing Counsel for R1.

No appearance for R2 *****

O R D E R

The petitioner challenges the letters dated 25.04.2024 and

17.05.2024 issued by the first respondent, by which the petitioner’s application for issuance of a passport in favour of her minor daughter was rejected on the ground that the father had not given his consent. It is stated that there is a marital dispute between the petitioner and her husband.

2. In an identical circumstance, a Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.25264 of 2024, following the decision of the Karnataka High Court in Manha Faraz v. Union of India, held that when a single parent applies for a passport for a minor child, the consent of the other parent need not be insisted upon. In such cases, the required documents include proof of present address, proof of date of birth, an attested photocopy of the passport of either or both parents, and a declaration as per Annexure-G affirming the particulars furnished in the application regarding the minor. Based on such compliance, the Passport Authority was directed to issue the passport without insisting on the consent of the father.

3. In light of the above legal position, the impugned letters issued by the first respondent are not legally sustainable and are liable to be set aside. Accordingly, the impugned letters dated 25.04.2024 and 17.05.2024 are set aside, and the Writ Petition is allowed. The first respondent is directed to process the application and issue a passport to the petitioner’s minor daughter without insisting on the consent of the father, subject to the petitioner furnishing the required documents in accordance with law.

4. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Index :Yes / No 12.03.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No ias HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

ias

12.03.2026