W.P(MD)No.24553 of 2019

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 20.11.2019

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.GOVINDARAJ

W.P(MD)No.24553 of 2019

Kitherian Antony

.. Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Regional Passport Officer,

Regional Passport Office,

Bharathi Ula Veethi,

Madurai – 625 002.

2.The Inspector of Police,

Koodankulam Police Station,

Tirunelveli District.

... Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of

India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the

1st respondent to release the impounded Pass Port of the petitioner

bearing No.S1989317.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Rajeshwaran

For R1

: Mr.V.Kathirvelu

Assistant Solicitor General of India

assisted by Mrs.Deepa

For R2

: Mrs.J.Padmavathi Devi

Special Government Pleader

ORDER

The petitioner was issued with a passport and went abroad on

avocation. When he came down to India, his passport bearing

No.S1989317 was impounded on the ground of pendency of criminal case

against him. According to the petitioner, pendency of an FIR is not

a bar and the passport should not have been impounded.

2.Mr.V.Kathirvelu, learned Assistant Solicitor Gen