Suthakar v. The Regional Passport Officer
Passport – Writ of Mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), W.P(MD)No.15961 of 2025, decided 13.06.2025 by C.SARAVANAN, J. Passport issuance despite pending criminal case: petitioner Suthakar, Accused No.2 in Crime No.283 of 2020 (Inspector of Police, Malaiyur Police Station, Pudukkottai District), sought mandamus directing the Regional Passport Officer, Trichirappali to process passport application file No.TR1067516447925 dated 26.03.2025. No charge sheet filed; petitioner allegedly minor at time of offence. Directions: process application; hand over passport to concerned police station before travel abroad; petitioner to claim passport subject to orders of concerned Magistrate Court. Keywords: passport, mandamus, Article 226, pending investigation, no charge sheet, accused, minor, Magistrate permission, Regional Passport Officer.
What did the court decide?
Direction to the first respondent to process the petitioner's passport application; before foreign travel the passport shall be handed over to the concerned police station, and the petitioner may claim it subject to appropriate orders from the concerned Magistrate Court; no order as to costs.