Writ petition filed for re-issuance of passport. Court extended validity from one to three years considering petitioner is a public activist, not a flight risk, and no possibility of fleeing justice.
Validity of petitioner's passport extended from one year to three years.
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W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 06.12.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN
W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
S.P.Udayakumar ... Petitioner Vs.
Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Passport Issuing Authority, Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai-625 002. ... Respondent
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to seek for a direction directing the respondent to re-issue the passport to the petitioner in application reference no. 23-1012165733 within a time stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mrs.T.Seeni Syed Amma for M/s.Lajapathi Roy Associates For Respondent : Mr.K.Govindarajan DSGI
W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
ORDER
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned DSGI for the
respondents
do not issue visa if the passport's validity period is restricted to one year. The very purpose of issuing passport is to enable the holder to travel abroad. I take judicial notice of the fact that the criminal cases came to be registered against the petitioner as he led the agitation protesting the establishment of nuclear plant in Kudankulam. Though the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India declined to interfere in the matter, it had indicated that the Government can consider dropping the criminal cases. The petitioner is a public activist. There is absolutely no possibility of his fleeing from the arms of justice for any reason. By no stretch of imagination, the petitioner can be called as flight risk. His area of activities is in India.
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W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
petitioner's passport is extended from one year to three years. The Writ Petition is allowed accordingly. No costs.
06.12.2023 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No rmi
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W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.
rmi
W.P(MD)No.26246 of 2023
06.12.2023
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the petitioner was entitled to an extension of passport validity beyond one year despite pending criminal cases.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
S.P.Udayakumar
Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs
G.R.SWAMINATHAN
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
