Dismissed¶36

Karni Kevin Steven v. the Union of India

Andhra Pradesh HC14 Apr 2026WP/1036/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Withdrawal of writ petition challenging refusal of police clearance certificate (PCC) by Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam (L.Ref. SCN/1049442839/25 dt.26.06.2025; Application VS4084908737825 dt.09.07.2025) owing to pending Crime No.74/2024 (II Addl. JMFC, Tanuku, West Godavari); dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to file afresh; no costs; I.A.Nos.1 & 2 of 2026 closed; SHO Penugonda Police Station impleaded as R3 vide order dt.23.02.2026; Articles 226, 14, 19, 21 and Sec.151 CPC invoked; Justice Battu Devanand; High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati; W.P. No.1036 of 2026; passport/PCC; no cases cited, no merits decided.

What did the court decide?

Permission to withdraw the writ petition granted; liberty given to the petitioner to file afresh; no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand closed. ¶36

Karni Kevin Steven Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Permission to withdraw the writ petition granted; liberty given to the petitioner to file afresh; no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand closed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the action of Respondent No.2 in refusing a police clearance certificate (PCC) to the petitioner vide L.Ref.No. SCN/1049442839/25 dated 26.06.2025 (Application No. VS4084908737825 dt.09.07.2025) on account of pendency of Crime No.74/2024 before the II Addl. Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Tanuku, is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India. NOTE: This issue was framed in the prayer but was never adjudicated, as the petition was withdrawn.

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Ratio / Principle

On learned counsel for the petitioner seeking permission to withdraw the writ petition with liberty to file afresh, the Court dismissed the writ petition as withdrawn, granting liberty to file afresh; there shall be no order as to costs; and miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. No question on the merits of the PCC refusal was decided.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court (Amaravati), Special Original Jurisdiction, Single Judge (Battu Devanand, J.) — W.P. No.1036/2026 (Karni Kevin Steven v. Union of India, Joint Secretary/Central Passport Officer & Ors.), decided 15.04.2026. The writ petition, filed under Article 226 read with Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution, challenged the refusal by Respondent No.2 (Regional Passport Officer, Visakhapatnam) to grant a Police Clearance Certificate vide L.Ref.No. SCN/1049442839/25 dated 26.06.2025 (Ref. Application No. VS4084908737825 dated 09.07.2025) on account of pendency of Crime No.74/2024 on the file of the II Addl. Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Tanuku, West Godavari District; I.A.No.2/2026 (Sec.151 CPC) had impleaded the SHO, Penugonda Police Station as Respondent No.3 by order dated 23.02.2026. At hearing, counsel sought permission to withdraw; the writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to file afresh, with no order as to costs, and pending miscellaneous petitions were closed. No issue on the merits was adjudicated; no precedent was cited.

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APHC010717622025

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[3207]

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

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(Special Original Jurisdiction)

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WEDNESDAY,THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

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WRIT PETITION NO: 1036/2026

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Between:

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KARNI KEVIN STEVEN, S/O.SANJEEVA BABU, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, OCC UN-EMPLOYEE, R/OTHURPUPALEM, H/O.PANDITHAVILLURU, PODURU MANDAL, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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THE UNION OF INDIA, THE JOINT SECRETARY PSP AND CENTRAL PASSPORT OFFICER, PSP DIVISION MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, NEW DELHI.

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THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE. NEAR P.F OFFICE, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, MARRIPALEM VUDA LAYOUT, NAD POST, VISAKHAPATNAM-530009, A.P.

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THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, PENUGONDA POLICE STATION, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT - 534 320. R3 IS IMPLEADED AS PER THE COURT'S ORDER DT.23.02.2026 IN I.A.NO.02 OF 2026.

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue an appropriate Writ order, or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus and declaring action of the Respondent No.2 in refusing PCC to the petitioner vide L Ref.No. SCN/1049442839/25, dated 26.06.202 with Ref Application No.

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VS4084908737825, dt.09.07.2025 on account of pendency of Crime No.74/2024 on the file of the Hon’ble II Addl. Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Tanuku, West Godavari District as illegal, arbitrary and violation of Natural Justice of Principles and rights of the petitioner under Article 14,19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently set-aside the Lr.Ref.No. SCN/1049442839/25, dated 26.06.2025 with Ref Application No. VS4084908737825, dt.09.07.2025 and direct the respondent No.2 to issue police clearance certificate to the petitioner and pass

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IA NO: 1 OF 2026

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Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to consequently set-aside the Lr. Ref.No.SCN/1049442839/25, dt.26.06.2025 with Ref.Application No.VS4084908737825, dt.09.07.2025 and direct the respondent No.2 to issue police clearance certificate to the petitioner and pass

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IA NO: 2 OF 2026

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Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased May be Pleased to Implead the Station House Officer Penugonda Police Station, West Godavari District as the 3rd respondent in the above said writ petition and pass

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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