Seeni Sikkandar v. The Passport Officer
Case brief
What is this about?
Passport renewal refused on adverse police verification report; writ of mandamus under Article 226; W.P.(MD)No.4521 of 2025; Seeni Sikkandar v. Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Madurai; pending Crime Nos.137 and 1370 of 2019, charge sheet E-Filing No. 202400356 before Judicial Magistrate No.II, Madurai; liberty granted to approach Trial Court; disposal within three weeks; right to travel abroad held a fundamental right; no denial of relief absent extraordinary circumstances; restriction of passport validity and conditions permissible; Section 228 Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; Regional Passport Officer to decide application File No. MD1077267164725 in terms of Trial Court order; Vivek Kumar Singh, J.; decision dated 12.03.2025.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed on the stated terms: liberty to the petitioner to move the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Madurai for the relief sought (such petition to be numbered and disposed of within three weeks), with the observation that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental right and relief shall not be denied absent extraordinary circumstances, subject to restriction of passport validity and appropriate conditions; thereafter the petitioner to move the jurisdictional Regional Passport Officer, who shall dispose of the renewal application in terms of the Trial Court's order; no order as to costs.