Murugan v. The Regional Passport Officer
Case at a glance
- Bench
- G R SWAMINATHAN
Outcome
Disposed of
The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly
Provisions considered
- Constitution of India art. 226
Key paragraphs
- Para 44. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor draws my attention to the recent decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Mahesh Kumar Agarwal Vs.Union of India and another (Civil Appeal No.17769 of 2025 decided on 19.12.2025.) https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20241 of 2026__________Page3 of 45.I take note…
Judgment
WP No. 20241 of 2026__________Page1 of 4IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 21-05-2026CORAMTHE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G. R. SWAMINATHANWP No. 20241 of 2026 Murugan..Petitioner(s)Vs1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers, No.2 and 3,IV Floor, Old No.785, New No. 158,Anna Salai, Chennai- 600 002.
The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Kallakurichi and District.
The Consulate General of IndiaAdu Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)..Respondent(s)Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to renew the petitioner’s passport bearing No.P2042000 and issue new passport by considering petitioner’s Passport application reference no. 26-2001264261 within a time frame fixed by this Court. For Petitioner(s):Mr.V.GunasekarFor Respondent(s):Mr.M.Sathyan for R1Mr.L.Baskaran Additional Public Prosecutor for R2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20241 of 2026__________Page2 of 4ORDERHeard both sides. 2. The writ petitioner is presently working in Abu Dhabi. He is only an ordinary labourer. The validity of the petitioner’s passport expires on 22.08.2026. Hence, he seeks renewal of the same. On account of the pendency of a criminal case, the authority could not grant renewal and that led to filing of this writ petition. 3. It is seen that the writ petitioner herein is figuring as A1 in Crime No.2 of 2019 registered on the file of AWPS, Kallakurichi, registered for matrimonial offences. The case has been charge sheeted and taken on file in C.C.No.544 of 2025, on the file of the Judicial Magistrate – II, Chinna Salem, Kallakurichi. It is well settled that once a case has been charge sheeted and taken cognizance, permission has to be obtained from the jurisdictional criminal court where the prosecution is still pending.
Operative part
The learned Additional Public Prosecutor draws my attention to the recent decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Mahesh Kumar Agarwal Vs.Union of India and another (Civil Appeal No.17769 of 2025 decided on 19.12.2025.) https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20241 of 2026__________Page3 of 45.I take note of the fact that the petitioner is presently abroad and he may not be in a position to come down to India. Therefore, the petitioner may submit an application before the Trial Court through his counsel. As and when such an application is filed, it shall be numbered immediately and disposed of. The Trial Court can very well pass orders favouring the petitioner herein within a period of three weeks thereafter. A certified copy shall also be issued to the petitioner’s counsel. The petitioner shall produce the same before the third respondent and get his passport renewed. 6. At the same time, on account of the petitioner’s absence from India, the trial cannot be impeded. The petitioner, therefore, has to give a special vakalat for his counsel and also seek exemption of his appearance. In other words, the petitioner should not dispute the identity of the witnesses later. Subject to the petitioner co-operating for the speedy disposal of the case, even in his absence, the Court below can very well pass orders in his favour. The Trial Judge will put the de facto complainant on notice before passing final orders. 6. The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs. 21-05-2026Index: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderNeutral Citation: Yes/Nosli/mp https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20241 of 2026__________Page4 of 4G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.sli/mpTo1.The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Chennai Royala Towers, No.2 and 3,IV Floor, Old No.785, New No. 158,Anna Salai, Chennai- 600 002.2.The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Kallakurichi and District. 3. The Consulate General of IndiaAdu Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)WP No. 20241 of 202621-05-2026
Questions this judgment answers
What did the Court decide in this case?
The Court recorded the following disposition: The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly
Which statutory provisions did this judgment involve?
Constitution of India — art. 226.
Precedent status how later indexed judgments have treated this case
No known negative treatment found in the Courts & Cases corpus.
This is a result about the indexed corpus, not a finding that the judgment remains good law. Coverage may be incomplete.