THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.32771 of 2025

ORDER:

This Writ Petition is filed challenging the action of respondent No.2 in not issuing the passport to the petitioner for 10 years inspite of Application Ref. No.(ARN) 25-1062040991, dated 24.09.2025, made by the petitioner in place of old passport No.C1441688.

2. Heard Sri Kasoju Mahesh Chary, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri B.Jithender, learned Standing Counsel for Central Government for respondent Nos.1 and 2. Perused the record.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner applied for a passport, which was issued vide Passport No. C1441688, dated 10.08.2024, and that the said passport expired on 09.08.2025. He further submits that petitioner applied for renewal of the passport vide Application Ref.No. (ARN) 25-1062040991, and an appointment was scheduled on 04.11.2025. The grievance of the petitioner is that the original passport was issued for only one year, and he apprehends that the renewed passport may also be issued for a period of only one year. He, therefore, seeks a direction to the respondents to issue a passport for ten years.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents relied upon the judgment of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay in W.P.(L) No.1576 of 2024, dated 08.04.2024, wherein it was held that if a petitioner is aggrieved by the issuance of a passport for a limited period, he is required to approach the Criminal Court, where the case is pending. It is further submitted that the writ petition is liable to be dismissed as premature since the petitioner is yet to appear before the Passport Authority on the scheduled appointment dated

04.11.2025.

5. Upon consideration of the submissions and the material on record, this Court is of the view that the writ petition is premature and not maintainable at this stage. Therefore, this Court cannot grant a direction regarding the period of validity of a passport which is yet to be renewed and for which statutory procedures are still pending.

6. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

____________________________ NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA, J Date: 29.10.2025 dgr