HEMANTH YELUGUBANTI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed claiming the following relief:

(2.) The case of the petitioner in brief is that the petitioner had a passport bearing No.L4101518 and the same is valid upto 18/8/2023. After expiry of the same, the petitioner made an application along with all the requisite documents for renewal of the passport. Later, the petitioner's application was forwarded for police verification and the concerned police officials sent police verification report to the 3rdrespondent. Even after receipt of the police verification report, the 3rdrespondent did not process the application of the petitioner. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the 3rdrespondent and requested for further processing of the application. The petitioner also informed to the 3rdrespondent about the criminal proceedings registered against him. Two criminal cases i.e., C.C.No.660 of 2022 on the file of the II Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kakinada and P.R.C.No.2 of 2022 on the file of the II Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Vijayawada, were registered against the petitioner. The petitioner filed Criminal Petition Nos.5639 of 2022 and 2418 of 2022 on the file of this Court seeking to quash the two criminal cases as stated supra, wherein this Court was pleased to stay all further proceedings. The 3rdrespondent neither issued any show-cause notice to the petitioner nor processed the application of the petitioner. Hence, the present Writ Petition.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has applied for renewal of passport. Moreover, this Court stayed the all further proceedings pursuant to the two criminal cases filed against the petitioner. He further submits that the Respondent Authorities more particularly Respondent No.3 in not accepting the representations submitted by the petitioner and not processing the petitioner's application for renewal/re-issuance of the passport is nothing but an infringement of Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.