JOMON NALLAVEETIL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed with following prayers:

(2.) According to the petitioner, he is employed as a driver in a marketing and sales company in Sharjah, and is the sole breadwinner of the family. The petitioner was having an Indian Passport bearing No.K6454744. The passport was issued on 13/3/2013 and it was about to expire on 12/3/2023. Therefore the petitioner preferred an application for re-issuance of passport on 12/11/2022 by tatkal before the Regional Passport Office, Kozhikode. The petitioner appeared before the 2nd respondent on 17/11/2022 and the 2nd respondent dispatched a new passport bearing number W6562604 to the petitioner on the basis of the application preferred before him. Subsequently the petitioner received Ext.P2 show cause notice under Ss. 10(3)b and 12(1)b of the Passports Act, 1967, stating that the petitioner is required to furnish a proper explanation regarding the circumstances under which the petitioner suppressed the material information regarding the pendency of Crime No.723/2017 of Mananthavady Police Station, which is now pending as C.C.No.431/2018 before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II, Mananthavady. The petitioner is challenging Ext.P2 show-cause notice.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Deputy Solicitor General of India. I also heard the learned Government Pleader appearing for the 3rd respondent.