IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JANUARY 2019 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE WRIT PETITION NO.57223 OF 2018 (GM - PASS) BETWEEN:
Rithesh Kumar Solanki @ Rithesh Kumar Jain Aged 37 years, S/o Late Gautham Chand Solanki, No.15/16, Zalawad Apartment, Church Road, Verpery, Chennai – 600 007.
(By Sri. P. P. Hegde, Advocate) AND:
1. The Regional Passport Officer Office of the Regional Passport Office, No.1, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Road, Saligrama, Chennai – 600 093.
2. The Regional Passport Officer Office of Regional Passport Office, 8th Block, 80 feet Road, Kormangala, Bengaluru - 560 095.
… Petitioner 3. The Senior Intelligence Officer Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Regional Unit, Bejai Church Road, Mangaluru – 575 004.
(By Sri. Kumar M.N, CGC) … Respondents This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to direct the respondents No.1 and 2 to renew the passport bearing No.S1845863 of the petitioner for a period of at least ten years and etc.
This Petition coming on for preliminary hearing this day, the Court made the following:-
ORDER Sri. P.P. Hegde, learned counsel for the petitioner. Sri. Kumar M.N., learned Central Government Counsel for the respondents.
Petition is admitted for hearing. With the consent of the parties, it is heard finally.
2. In this petition, petitioner interalia seeks a writ of mandamus directing respondent Nos.1 and 2 to renew the passport for a period of ten years.
3. When the matter was taken up today, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has filed an application (Annexure-J) to the Passport Officer, in which the petitioner has assigned reasons as to why the Passport Authority has to extend the period to him for ten years.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that Passport Authority be directed to consider the application to renew the passport by a speaking order in accordance with law within a fixed time limit.
5. On the other hand, learned Central Government Counsel submits that the application submitted by the petitioner shall be considered in accordance with law.
6. In view of the submissions made and in view of the facts of the case made in the petition, respondent Nos.1 and 2 – Passport Authorities are hereby directed to consider the application of the petitiner to issue the passport by a speaking order bearing in mind the reasons assigned by him for issuance of passport for ten years in accordance with law within a period of ten days from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order passed today.
Accordingly, petition is disposed of.
Sd/- JUDGE Mds/-
AAJ:
01.02.2019 WP No. 57223/2018 ORDER Sri.M.N.Kumar, learned CGC submits that he be permitted to file memo of appearance on behalf of the respondents.
Permission is granted.
It is further submitted that in the order dated 21.1.2019, direction has been issued to take a decision for issuance of passport within a period of ten days instead of four weeks.
In view of the aforesaid submission, it is directed that the word ‘ten days’ in the ultimate paragraph of the order shall be read as ‘four weeks’. This order shall be in conjunction with the order dated 21.1.2019.
Office to issue corrected certified copy of the order to the learned counsel for the parties.
Sd/- JUDGE ln.