Disposed¶41

Jasmitha Chittineni v. Union of India

Passport law – re-issue of lost passport

Andhra Pradesh HC9 Feb 2026WP/833/2026

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What is this about?

Andhra Pradesh High Court, Amaravati; W.P.No.833 of 2026; decided 10.02.2026 by K. Sreenivasa Reddy, J.; passport re-issue application kept 'on hold' for place-of-birth clarification from RPO Guwahati; lost minor passport No.J4088785 (file GUWCO0569721); fresh passport No.AM774231 dated 22.01.2026 valid till 21.01.2036 issued during pendency; petition closed as infructuous/non-survival; no costs; Article 226; Articles 14, 19, 21; Section 151 CPC; no precedent discussed.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition closed as the cause of action did not survive (fresh passport already issued); no order as to costs; pending miscellaneous applications, if any, stand closed. ¶41

Jasmitha Chittineni Vs Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

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[3327]

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APHC010002372026

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

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TUESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY

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WRIT PETITION NO: 833/2026

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Between:

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JASMITHA CHITTINENI, D/O SRI SIVA RAMA KOTESWARA RAO CHITTINENI AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS, OCC STUDENT R/O 11-5-6, YARRA VARI VEEDHI, PANDURANGAPETA TENALI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522 201

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, CPV AND OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SOUTH BLOCK NEW DELHI.

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THE PASSPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIAN, REP. BY ITS CHIEF PASS PORT OFFICER PSP DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ROOM NO.8, PATIALA HOUSE. NEW DELHI

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REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER A DEE TOWER, 2ND FLOOR, OPP. NIDHI BHAWAN LALMATI, N.H-37, GUWAHATI, ASSAM - 781 029

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REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER DOOR NO. 26-4-2, 1ST FLOOR, VEDA BHAVAN G.T. ROAD, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH - 520 002 ...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 toleased to issue a writ or direction more particularly in the nature of writ of mandamus, declaring the

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SRK, J W.P.No.833 of 2026

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inaction of Respondent No. 4 in keeping petitioner application On Hold and not reissuing Passport of the petitioner, pursuant to petitioner Application No. VJ2075369457725, 22.07.2025 on the pretext of seeking clarification regarding petitioner place of birth as per se illegal, arbitrary, mala fide, and in gross violation of principals of natural justice, fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India. Consequently, direct Respondents authorities to remove the On Hold status and re-issue a fresh Dated passport to petitioner valid for the full period of 10 years with in reasonable time without any further delay or unwarranted clarification 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 pleased to direct the respondent No.4 to consider the Application No. VJ2075369457725, Dated: 22.07.2025 for reissue a fresh passport to the petitioner without any further delay or unwarranted clarification pending disposal of the present writ petition and pass

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.RAYALA BHAGYA RAJA

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.J U M V PRASAD (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL) The Court made the following:

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SRK, J W.P.No.833 of 2026

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HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY

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WRIT PETITION No.833 of 2026

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ORDER:

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This Writ Petition has been filed seeking to declare the action of respondent No.4 in keeping petitioner’s application “on hold” and not reissuing passport of the petitioner, pursuant to petitioner application No.VJ2075369457725, dated 22.07.2025 on the pretext of seeking clarification regarding petitioner’s place of birth, as illegal and arbitrary, and consequently direct the respondent authorities to remove the petitioner’s application from ‘on hold’ status and re-issue a fresh passport to petitioner valid for the full period of 10 years.

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Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned counsel appearing for respondents.

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Case of the petitioner is that she was issued a minor passport bearing pass port No.J4088785, on 11.01.2012 by respondent No.3 vide file No.GUWCO0569721, valid till 10.01.2017. Her place of birth in the said passport was recorded as Tenali, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh (as per original Birth Certificate). The said minor passport was subsequently lost and she lodged a police complaint, and the police stated that

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SRK, J W.P.No.833 of 2026

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enquiries have been made to trace the same but in vain (not traced). Subsequently, petitioner made an application along with required documents for re-issuance of passport under the “lost passport category” at RPO, Vijayawada on 22.07.2025. But the respondent authorities kept her application under ‘on hold’ status since August 2025 on the sole ground that RPO, Vijayawada (respondent No.4) is awaiting ‘clarification’ from RPO, Guwahati (respondent No.3) regarding her place of birth mentioned in the old file (GUWCO0569721).

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Learned counsel appearing for the respondents, on written instructions, submits that the petitioner applied for re-issuance of passport bearing No.J4088785 under ‘lost category’ with change of place of birth and correction of surname on 22.07.2025 vide file No.VJ2075369457725. The file has been processed under prepolice verification basis. He further submits that the application has been processed and a passport bearing No.AM774231 dated 22.01.2026 valid up to 21.01.2036 has been issued to the applicant as per request.

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