RAVAL PRATIKKUMAR MUKUNDRAY Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Draft amendment dtd. 8/8/2022 tendered today during the course of the hearing, is granted. The same shall be carried out forthwith.

(2.) It appears from the materials on record that, as on date, there is one prosecution pending against the writ- applicant herein for the offence punishable under Ss. 406 and 420 of the IPC. This prosecution is of the year 2016. Since the complainant is not cooperating in the trial, the case is pending as on date. Since the criminal prosecution is pending, the Passport Authority has declined to issue a Regular Passport in favour of the writ-applicant. The authority concerned shall look into the notification issued by the Ministry of External Affairs dtd. 25/8/1993 in this regard. It reads as under:

(3.) With the above, the Regional Passport Officer is directed to process the application filed by the writ-applicant herein for a Passport and issue the Passport with a validity period of 5 years, in terms of the notification referred to above. This exercise shall be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the writ of this order. I am told that the writ-applicant has to reach US on account of social problem. If it is possible for the authority concerned to issue the Passport even before two weeks all endeavour shall be made in this regard.