Teki Prabhakar v. the Union of India
Case brief
What is this about?
Follow-on writ (single judge, Battu Devanand J.) on passport denial amid pending criminal proceedings: Andhra Pradesh High Court allows W.P.9686/2026 on the same terms as W.P.No.5769 of 2026 and batch (07.04.2026); directions to issue 10-year passports under Section 10 Passports Act 1967, Rule 12 Passport Rules 1980 and GSR No.570(E) dated 25.08.1993 without reference to criminal cases, subject to no-departure undertaking/affidavit, trial-court certification, deposit of renewed passport and prior trial-court permission to travel abroad. Parties: Teki Prabhakar v. Union of India (MEA), Regional Passport Officer Visakhapatnam, SHO Arilova PS; counsel P Nanilu Naidu; GP for Home; Amrutha Boppudi (Central Govt Counsel). Related interim relief IA No.1 of 2026 under Section 151 CPC closed with the main petition.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed on the terms of the common order in W.P.No.5769 of 2026 and batch dated 07.04.2026: the Passport Authorities are to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's application (file No. VS 1066490747626) for issuance/reissuance/renewal of a passport for ten years under Section 10 of the Passports Act, 1967, Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980 and Gazette Notification GSR No.570(E) dated 25.08.1993, without reference to criminal proceedings pending before concerned courts, subject to conditions: (i) undertaking with affidavit not to leave the country during pendency of criminal proceedings without court permission and to cooperate with the trial court; (ii) trial court to issue certified copy within two weeks; (iii) certified copy to be submitted to the Passport Officer; (iv) Passport Officer to decide within two weeks in accordance with law; (v) original renewed passport to be deposited before the trial court; (vi) petitioner to seek trial-court permission to travel abroad; (vii) trial court to consider such request in accordance with law. No order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand closed (covering IA No.1 of 2026 under Section 151 CPC).