DIPAK JASHWANTLAL PANCHAL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Learned advocate Mr. Pradip Bhate waives service of notice of Rule on behalf of the respondents.

(2.) The present Special Civil Application seeks a direction to extend the validity of his passport for a period of five years by making appropriate endorsement on his Passport bearing No.Z7922523.

(3.) Learned advocate for the petitioner has submitted that under the prevalent Rules of the SR Notification 570(E) dtd. 25/8/1993, the respondent authority has to renew the passport of the petitioner for a period of ten years. He submits that the petitioner is facing trial in Special (SEBI) Case No.78 of 2015 before the Special Court at Mumbai and is pending hearing and final disposal. During the pendency of the trial, petitioner's passport has expired in the year 2018. The petitioner has, therefore, moved application before the concerned Special Court at Mumbai. The Trial Court vide its order dtd. 19/6/2024 has directed the passport authority to consider the application of the petitioner for renewal of her passport as per the terms and conditions of the Passport Act. It is further submitted that in the said order the learned Special Judge has observed that pendency of criminal case cannot be a ground for obtaining/renewal of passport.