VIPULBHAI CHANDULAL THAKKAR Vs. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By the present writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for direction to issue fresh passport to the petitioner for a period of 10 years.

(2.) Learned advocate for the petitioner submits that an FIR being No.11191043220248 dtd. 19/4/2022 came to be lodged with the Shahpur Police Station, Ahmedabad for the offences punishable under Ss. 406, 420, 482, 483, 486 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code as well as Ss. 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act. He submits that the investigation is over and the charge sheet was filed on 21/9/2022 before the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Ahmedabad. The filing of the charge sheet culminated into Criminal Case No.93167 of 2022. He submits that the petitioner is enlarged on bail by the City Civil and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad vide order dtd. 27/4/2022 passed in Criminal Misc. Application No.2707 of 2022. He submits that since the passport of the petitioner was to expire on 6/1/2023, the petitioner moved applications before the Trial Court which were allowed from time to time. He submits that the petitioner's application for renewal of passport is allowed for 1 year only though as per rules it is required to be allowed for 10 years.

(3.) Mr. Pradip D. Bhate, learned advocate for the respondent submits that the passport application of the petitioner is to be processed in accordance with the GSR Notification 570(E) dtd. 25/8/1993. He submits that the citizens who are facing criminal proceedings have to produce orders from the Court concerned permitting them to depart from India.