Kulasekaraperumal v. The Regional Passport Officer
Case brief
What is this about?
Passport application withheld under Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967 due to pending criminal cases (Crime Nos. 98/2023 and 99/2023, Panagudi Police Station, Tirunelveli); writ of mandamus under Article 226 before Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; disposed of with liberty to seek permission from the jurisdictional criminal court, which was directed to consider the application expeditiously; no costs. Relevant for advocates handling passport refusals on account of criminal litigation, where the High Court channels the applicant to the criminal court for permission rather than deciding the merits.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of; liberty granted to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional criminal court for obtaining permission, which court is to consider such application as expeditiously as possible; no order as to costs.