SEEMA Vs. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICEER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to issue passport to the petitioner, by considering the Application in No.MD1075216659923 dtd. 28/3/2023 within the time stipulated by this Court.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that she is working an Agency Development Manager, HDFC Life Insurance, Madurai Branch. Since her passport is about to expire on 20/10/2023, she applied for renewal of her passport on 28/3/2023 with an application No. MD1075216659923. The first respondent sent a communication stating that an adverse police verification report was received that she is involved in a case in Crime No.167 of 2021 on the file of the 2nd respondent and requesting her to send her explanation in this regard within a period of 30 days. She has also sent her reply to the first respondent on 22/4/2023 that due to family dispute, a false complaint has been given against her, based on which, the said case has been registered. Despite the same, her passport application has not been considered. Hence, she filed the present writ petition.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that due to family dispute, a false complaint has been given against her, based on which, the said case has been registered. He would further submit that it is a settled position of law that the mere pendency of FIR is not a bar for the authority to issue passport to the petitioner.