Lakshmi Devi Pasupuleti Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Lakshmi Devi Pasupuleti Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed as withdrawn with liberty granted to the petitioner to file a fresh Writ Petition; no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition (including IA No. 1 of 2025) stand closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the inaction of Respondent 2 in re-issuing/renewing Passport No. M5458669 despite the online application dated 4-8-2025 was illegal, arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional (raised by the petitioner's prayer; NOT adjudicated - the court did not reach this issue because the petition was withdrawn). +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Permission is granted to learned counsel for the petitioner to withdraw the Writ Petition with liberty to file a fresh Writ Petition.

Key takeaways

The Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn, granting the petitioner liberty to file a fresh Writ Petition, with no order as to costs.ratio¶¶33
As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed (including IA No. 1 of 2025 seeking interim re-issue of the passport).ratio¶¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction), single judge (K. Sreenivasa Reddy, J.), Writ Petition No. 32244 of 2025, decided 05.03.2026. Lakshmi Devi Pasupuleti had petitioned under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for a writ of mandamus directing the Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Vijayawada (2nd respondent) to re-issue/renew Passport No. M5458669, complaining of inaction despite her online application dated 4-8-2025 with payment of the requisite fee; an interlocutory application (IA No. 1 of 2025 under Section 151 CPC) sought the same direction pending disposal. Before any adjudication, counsel for the petitioner sought leave to withdraw the petition with liberty to file afresh. The Court granted permission and dismissed the Writ Petition as withdrawn with liberty to file a fresh Writ Petition, made no order as to costs, and closed the miscellaneous petitions pending therein as a sequel. No substantive finding was rendered on the passport inaction grievance; no cases were cited or relied upon.

[3327]

APHC010617582025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

THURSDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY

WRIT PETITION NO: 32244/2025

Between:

LAKSHMI DEVI PASUPULETI, W/O DARBAR BASHA SHAIK, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, OCC COOLIE, R/O NADIMITHURAKAPALLI, MADITHADU, TSUNDUPALLI, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH BLOCK NEW DELHI.

THE PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 4TH FLOOR, STALIN CENTRAL D.NO. 27-37-158, GOVERNORPET M.G.ROAD, VIJAYAWADA-520 002

...RESPONDENT(S):

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 one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the 2nd respondent in reissuing the Passport bearing No. M5458669 duly renewing the same, inspite of submission of online application dt. 4-8-2025 duly paying the requisite amount, as being illegal, arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional and consequently direct the 2nd respondent

SRK, J WP No.32244 of 2025

2

herein to re-issue the passport, and to grant such other relief or reliefs as this Honble Court deems fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.

IA NO: 1 OF 2025

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 Pleased to direct the 2nd respondent herein to re-issue the passport No. M5458669 to the petitioner pursuant to the Online application receipt dt. 4-8-2025, pending disposal of the main Writ Petition, and to pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.V BABY RANI

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.J U M V PRASAD (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL)

The Court made the following:

SRK, J WP No.32244 of 2025

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 32244 of 2025

ORDER:

Learned counsel for the petitioner seeks permission of this

Court to withdraw the Writ Petition with liberty to file fresh Writ Petition.

Permission is granted.

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn granting liberty to the petitioner to file fresh Writ Petition. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any,

pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.

________________________ K. SREENIVASA REDDY, J.

Date: 05.03.2026 sj

SRK, J WP No.32244 of 2025

4

115

HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY

Writ Petition No.32244 of 2025

Date:05.03.2026

sj