Manga Devi Maddipudi v. Union of India
Passport – delay/non-issuance despite pending application – writ of mandamus under Article 226
Case brief
What is this about?
Passport withheld/delayed due to pending criminal proceedings; ten-year passport issuance notwithstanding prosecution; Passports Act, 1967 S.10; Passport Rules, 1980 R.12; GSR No.570(E) dated 25.08.1993; undertaking and affidavit; trial court certified copy; deposit of renewed passport before trial court; permission to travel abroad; Article 226 mandamus; Articles 14, 19, 21; Regional Passport Officer Vijayawada; Union of India, Ministry of External Affairs; Krishna District/Machilipatnam petitioner; follows W.P.No.5769 of 2026 and batch dated 07.04.2026; Justice Battu Devanand; no costs; miscellaneous petitions closed.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed on the same terms as the common order in W.P.No.5769 of 2026 and batch, dated 07.04.2026: the Passport Authorities (including respondent No.2) are to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's application dated 16.10.2025 (File No. VJ2065900099825) for issuance/reissuance/renewal of a passport for ten (10) years under Section 10 of the Passports Act, 1967, Rule 12 of Passport Rules, 1980 and GSR No.570(E) dated 25.08.1993, without reference to the criminal proceedings pending against her, subject to: (i) undertaking and affidavit not to leave the country during pendency of the criminal proceedings without court permission and to co-operate with the trial court; (ii) trial court to issue certified copy thereof within two weeks; (iii) certified copy to be submitted before the Passport Officer; (iv) Passport Officer to decide within two weeks; (v) renewed passport to be deposited before the trial court; (vi)-(vii) travel abroad only on application to, and permission of, the concerned trial court. No order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions closed.