CHALLAGUNDLA SRINIVASA RAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner seeks a Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of the 2nd respondent in renewing the passport of the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and for a consequential direction to the 2nd respondent.

(2.) The petitioner was issued passport No.J3900003 dated 09.03.2011 by the Passport Authority at Hyderabad, which expires on 08.03.2021. The petitioner submitted the renewal application dated 19.06.2020. The Passport Authority on verification, took an objection that the petitioner was involved in a criminal case vide Crime No.6/2018 of Rajupalem Police Station, Guntur District, registered for the offences under Sections 498-A of IPC and Secs.3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and the concerned C.C.No.382 of 2018 is pending in the Court of learned Junior Civil Judge, Sattenapalli. In its communication dated 30.06.2020, the Passport Officer instructed the petitioner to furnish proof of clearance of the aforesaid case for processing his renewal application. Aggrieved, the instant writ petition is filed by the petitioner.

(3.) Heard learned counsel for petitioner, Sri Giri Babu Marthi and Smt. Alekhya, learned counsel representing on behalf of learned Assistant Solicitor General for respondents.