The Telangana High Court has emphasized that passport renewal applications cannot be declined by passport authorities solely based on the existence of a pending criminal case against the applicant.

The petitioner stated that despite applying for passport renewal at the Regional Passport Office, it was declined citing ongoing criminal proceedings under Section 420 read with 34 of the IPC. Consequently, the petitioner sought relief from the court through a writ petition, requesting directives for the passport authorities to proceed with the renewal of the passport.

In reaching the conclusion, Justice Nanda relied on the rulings of the Supreme Court in cases like Sumit Mehta v. State of NCT of Delhi, Menaka Gandhi v. Union of India, and another, as well as Satish Chandra Verma v. Union of India (UOI) and others.

The petitioner's request was granted, and a directive was issued to the respondents to review his application promptly, within a week, without linking it to the ongoing criminal case against him.

Counsel for petitioner: P Lakshma Reddy

Counsels for respondents: NVR Rajya Lakshmi rep. for Dep. Solicitor General of India Gadi Praveen Kumar

Case Title: Ravikanti Venkatesham v. Union of India and Anr., W.P. No. 32906 OF 2023