THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE JUVVADI SRIDEVI CRIMINAL PETITION No.14058 of 2024

O R D E R

This Criminal Petition is filed by the petitioner-accused seeking to set aside the impugned Order dated 13.09.2024 passed in CRL.M.P.No.2506 of 2024 in Crime No.350 of 2023 by the learned Sessions Judge, Hyderabad, (for short ‘the learned trial Court’) whereby the application filed under Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, seeking issuance of a ‘No Objection Certificate’ for renewal of the petitioner’s passport, was dismissed.

02. Heard Sri P.Prashant, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State. Perused the record.

03. Learned counsel for the petitioner-accused submitted that the petitioner’s passport expired on 16.01.2024, and since certain criminal cases are pending against him, the learned trial Court declined to issue a No Objection Certificate for its renewal. It is contended that the petitioner is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is proved, and that the mere registration of previous cases or the maintenance of a rowdy sheet against him cannot, by itself, be a valid ground to deny the renewal of his passport. Learned counsel further submitted that the petitioner is willing to comply with any conditions that may be imposed by this Court and is ready to deposit his passport before the learned trial Court after its renewal. Hence, he prayed to allow this Criminal Petition by setting aside the impugned order.

04. On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State submitted that there are six criminal cases pending against the petitioner-accused. However, if the petitioner undertakes to deposit his passport before the learned trial Court after its renewal and ensures his regular appearance before the Court, he has no objection to the petitioner being permitted to renew his passport and left it to the discretion of this Court to pass appropriate orders.

05. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, and upon consideration of the submissions advanced by both the learned counsel, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established in accordance with law, and mere pendency of criminal cases cannot be a valid ground to deny renewal of his passport. In that view of the matter, and having regard to the undertaking by the learned counsel for the petitioner-accused to deposit the renewed passport before the trial Court, the impugned order dated 13.09.2024 passed in CRL.M.P.No.2506 of 2024 in Crime No.350 of 2023 by the learned Sessions Judge, Hyderabad, is hereby set aside. Consequently, the learned trial Court is directed to permit the petitioner-accused to renew his passport. Upon such renewal, the petitioner-accused shall deposit the renewed passport before the learned trial Court to ensure his presence during the course of trial.

06. Accordingly, with the above directions, this Criminal Petition is disposed of.

As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.

__________________ JUVVADI SRIDEVI, J

Date: 13-OCT-2025

KHRM

THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE JUVVADI SRIDEVI CRIMINAL PETITION No.14058 of 2024

Date: 13-OCT-2025

KHRM