DEEPA PARESH CHEDDA Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed by Smt. Deepa Paresh Chedda seeking a mandamus declaring the action of the Regional Passport Officer-2nd respondent in detaining/retaining her passport bearing No. A 215091 as arbitrary and illegal.

(2.) The petitioner claims to be a permanent resident of Hyderabad having been born and brought up therein. The Regional Passport Officer, Secunderabad-2nd respondent issued a passport bearing No. A 215091 to her. The passport is valid up to 22.10.2000. She made an application on 12.12.2000 for renewal of her passport. There being no action on her renewal application, she got issued a legal notice dated 02.01.2006. The office of the Regional Passport Officer issued a reply dated 20.2.2006 stating that the petitioner is involved in Crime No. Rc. No. 3/E/99 BS & FC on the file of CBI, New Delhi registered for the offences under Sections 120-B, 409 and 420 IPC and that the C.B.I has not informed them regarding the present status of the case and hence her application for renewal of passport has been kept in abeyance. Hence, this writ petition with a prayer stated supra.

(3.) For better understanding of the grievance of the petitioner, I deem it appropriate to refer paras 5 to 7 of the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, which read as hereunder: