This writ petition is filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondent to issue passport to the petitioner vide passport application file No.MD 2069949029717 dated 03.02.2017.
2.Mr.C.Godwin, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has passed B.E., Civil Engineering in the year 2015 and to secure employment, he decided to go abroad. So, the petitioner applied for passport with the respondent on 03.02.2017 and the application is still kept pending. Hence, the present writ petition is filed.
3.The learned counsel would further submit that there were two groups in the Holy Family Church, Carmel Nagar. During 2012/. Due to the dispute between the two groups, a case came to be registered in Cr.No.280/12. The petitioner has nothing to do with the offence.
4.The learned counsel placing reliance on the judgments of this Court in Mr.W.Jaihar William vs The State of Tamil Nadu, in W.P.(MD)Nos.8343 to 8350 of 2014, dated 27.06.2014 and Abdul Razik vs The Regional Passport Officer, in W.P.(MD)No.3927 of 2017, dated 13.03.2017 submitted that a mere registration of a criminal case cannot be a ground to reject the application submitted for issuance of passport.
5.Per Contra, the learned counsel for the respondent would submit that the application of the petitioner is still pending and the respondent is ready to consider the application on merits and in accordance with law.
6.In view of the above submissions of the learned counsels, this Writ Petition is disposed of, with a direction to the respondent to consider the application of the petitioner in MD2069949029717 dated 03.02.2017, in the light of the orders passed by this Court in the judgments cited supra, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
To The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Veethi, Race Course Road, Madurai..