NARENDRA K AMBWANI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) By this petition, the Petitioner seeks a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ directing the Union of India and Regional Passport Officer to forthwith extend the validity of the Petitioner's passport by a period of 9 years or 19 years from 26th August, 2014.

(3.) It appears that in the year 2003, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a criminal case interalia against M/s. Johnson & Johnson Ltd. and the Petitioner. The Petitioner was at the material time the President and Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Ltd. As a consequence, when the Petitioner's passport which was valid till 9th October, 2013 ran out of usable pages, the Petitioner applied for fresh booklet. However, Respondent no.2 cancelled the existing passport instead of issuing an additional booklet. Thereafter, the Petitioner made an application before the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, 19th Court, Mumbai for a direction to the Regional Passport Office to re-issue/renew Passport No.Z1783737. The learned Magistrate by the order dated 23rd May, 2013 passed the following order :