IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.11678 of 2026 Dated: 04.05.2026 Between:

Shovan Kumar Kundu …Petitioner AND The Union of India, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs Department, South Block, Raisina Hilla, New Delhi & others. …Respondents

ORDER:

The Writ Petition is filed challenging the action of respondent passport authorities in not renewing the petitioner’s passport vide File No.HY3076374962026 dated 13.02.2026 on the ground of pendency of a criminal case.

2. Heard Mr.Omar A.Pasha, learned counsel for petitioner and Sri N. Bhujanga Rao, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, for respondent Nos.1 to 3 and learned Government Pleader for Home appearing on behalf of respondent No.4.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that mere arraignment of the petitioner in a criminal case cannot be a ground for denial of renewal of passport. He relies on the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.3211 of 2026, dated 04.02.2026.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 3 submits that criminal case is pending against the petitioner vide C.C.No.2162 of 2025 before the I Ad