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M.Imran Khan v. Union of India

Madras HC1 Jun 2026WP(MD)/10745/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

passport seizure and return; Yemen travel restrictions on Indian citizens; seizure at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport; Bureau of Immigration; Regional Passport Officer and Regional Passport Enquiry Officer, Madurai; Ministry of External Affairs, Union of India; writ of mandamus under Article 226; disposal on respondents' consent after enquiry; direction to return passport within two weeks; liberty to apply for re-issuance; no costs; Madras High Court Madurai Bench; Hemant Chandangoudar J.; W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026; decided 01.06.2026.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the first respondent to return the petitioner's passport No. L8932497 within two (2) weeks of receipt of the order; liberty reserved to apply for re-issuance to the competent authority (to be considered on merits and in accordance with law); no order as to costs.

M.Imran Khan Vs Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing the respondents to return the petitioner's passport bearing No. L8932497, dated 21.04.2014, seized at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on 21.01.2022. +1 more

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Court's answer

In view of the respondents' recorded submission (enquiry concluded with petitioner's participation; passport to be returned; reissuance request to be considered independently on application), no further adjudication was required in the writ petition.

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Ratio / Principle

The writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent (Union of India) to return the petitioner's passport bearing No. L8932497, dated 21.04.2014, within two weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.

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Key takeaways

Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to submit an appropriate application before the competent authority seeking re-issuance of the passport; upon such application, it shall be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law.ratio¶32

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), Hemant Chandangoudar, J. — Writ petition (Article 226) by M.Imran Khan seeking return/reissue of passport No. L8932497 dated 21.04.2014, seized at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on 21.01.2022 on the ground that he had travelled to Yemen, a country subject to travel restrictions for Indian citizens. Respondents' Central Government Standing Counsel stated on instructions that an enquiry had been conducted with the petitioner's participation, that the passport would be returned, and that any reissuance request would be considered independently upon a fresh application made in accordance with law. Finding no further adjudication necessary, the Court disposed of the petition with a direction to the first respondent (Union of India) to return the passport within two weeks of receipt of the order, reserved the petitioner's liberty to apply to the competent authority for re-issuance (such application to be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law), and made no order as to costs.

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W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 01.06.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR

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W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026

M.Imran Khan

... Petitioner

vs.

1.Union of India, Rep by its Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.

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2.The Regional Passport Officer, W4VR, 768 Bharathi Ula Veethi, Near Thamaraithotti, Madurai 2.

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3.The Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport,

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4.The Regional Passport Enquiry Officer, W4VR, 768, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Near Thamaraithotti, Madurai 2. ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to return/reissue the petitioner’s passport bearing No. L8932497 dated

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026

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21.04.2014, which was seized at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on 21.01.2022, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court and consequently permit the petitioner to travel abroad.

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For Petitioner :Mr.S.Srikanth For Respondents :R.Saravanakumar Central Government Standing Counsel *****

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O R D E R

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Heard Mr. S. Srikanth, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner,

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and Mr. R. Saravana Kumar, learned Central Government Standing

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Counsel, who accepts notice on behalf of the respondents.

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2.The petitioner is before this Court seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to return the petitioner’s passport bearing No. L8932497, dated 21.04.2014, which was seized at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on 21.01.2022.

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3.The petitioner’s passport was seized on the ground that the petitioner had travelled to Yemen, which is a country in respect of which travel restrictions have been imposed for Indian citizens.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026

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4.Mr. R. Saravana Kumar, learned Central Government Standing

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Counsel appearing for the respondents, on instructions, submitted that an enquiry has been conducted and that the petitioner has participated in the said enquiry. He further submitted that the respondents are prepared to return the petitioner’s passport and that the petitioner’s request for reissuance of a passport would be considered independently upon submission of the necessary application in accordance with law. The said submission is placed on record.

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5.In view of the aforesaid submission, no further adjudication is required in the present writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to return the petitioner’s passport bearing No. L8932497, dated 21.04.2014, within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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6.Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to submit an appropriate application before the competent authority seeking re-issuance of the passport. Upon such application being made, the same shall be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)No.10745 of 2026

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7.There shall be no order as to costs.

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Index :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No cmr

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01.06.2026