YETHI T.U. Vs. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner prays that the 1st respondent-the Regional Passport Officer be directed to issue him a fresh passport since his earlier passport has now expired. According to the petitioner, his earlier passport had been obtained on the strength of Ext.P2 order issued by the Judicial First Class Magistrate-I, Ernakulam, but that since the said order permitted him to travel abroad only for one year, the passport had also been confined to that period. The petitioner concedes that he is arrayed as an accused in Crime No.1295 of 2017 before the afore mentioned Magistrate's Court and that it was therefore, that he had obtained Ext.P2 order from the said Court.

(2.) The petitioner's limited grievance in this case is that in spite of Ext.P2 order, the Passport Authority is now refusing to renew his passport or issue him a fresh one, in terms of law.

(3.) Shri.Jayasanker Nair, the learned Central Government Counsel appearing for the 1st respondent- Passport Authority, submits that the petitioner cannot accuse the said Authority in the manner as has been done in this writ petition because he has only acted as per law and in compliance of the directions in Ext.P2 order. He points out that in Ext.P2 the petitioner has been given permission to travel abroad only for one year and therefore, that the said Authority was well within its competence to limit the passport to one year. He, however, adds that if the petitioner is able to obtain fresh orders from the Magistrate's Court allowing him to travel abroad for longer periods, the 1st respondent would have no objection at all in considering the same in terms of law and to issue fresh orders immediately thereafter.