Subha v. The State Rep by the Commissioner of Police

ORDER The prayer in this Criminal Original Petition is to direct the respondents to remove, delete and expunge the name and all particulars of the petitioner from the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) database.

¶2The grievance of the petitioner is that he was arrayed as an accused in Crime No. 42 of 2016. Upon completion of the investigation, a final report was filed and taken on file in CC.No.161 of 2017. Subsequently, by order dated

09.08.2021 passed by this Court in CRL.O.P.No.4118 of 2018, the criminal proceedings were quashed. The said order has attained finality.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that, despite the quashment of the criminal proceedings, when he applied for issuance / renewal Page3 of 5 of his passport, the passport authorities have not considered his application on the ground that the records in the CCTNS database continue to reflect his involvement in the above criminal case.

¶4Today, on a query made by this Court, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that the above case was the only criminal case registered against the petitioner, that the same has already been quashed, the order of quashment has attained finality, and that no criminal case is presently pending against the petitioner.

¶5In view of the above submission, this Court is of the considered opinion that, upon production of a web copy of this order, the jurisdictional Passport Authority shall take note of the fact that no criminal case is pending against the petitioner and process his application accordingly. However, the records maintained in the CCTNS database are intended for maintaining criminal records and tracking purposes. Merely because the criminal proceedings have been quashed, the records themselves cannot be directed to be erased or deleted from the database.

¶6Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of on the following terms: Page4 of 5

(i) Upon production of a web copy of this order, the jurisdictional Passport Authority shall consider the petitioner's application by treating him as a person against whom no criminal case is pending. If there is no other legal impediment, the Passport Authority shall process the application and issue the passport in accordance with law. 14-07-2026 av To

¶1The Commissioner of Police Tambaram City Police, Chennai.

¶2The Superintendent of Police State Crime Records Bureau (CCTNS), Chennai, Tamilnadu.

¶3The Inspector of Police All Women Police Station, Tambaram, Chennai.

¶4The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court. CRLoOPoNo.o18470oofo2026 D.BHARATHAoCHAKRAVARTHY,oJ. av CRLoOPoNo.o18470oofo2026 14-07-2026 Page5oofo5

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 14-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY Subha W/o.Rajendran, D/o.Samarasam, No.254/D, Kadukupuram Salai, New Housing Unit, Ponnavarayankottai, Ukkadai Post, Thanjavur - 614602. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The State Rep by The Commissioner of Police Tambaram City Police, Chennai. 2. The Superintendent of Police State Crime Records Bureau (CCTNS), Chennai. Tamilnadu. 3. The Inspector of Police All Women Police Station, Tambaram, Chennai. Crime no.42 of 2016. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: This Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, praying to issue a direction, directing the Respondents - Particularly the 2nd and 3rd Respondents to remove, delete and expunge the name and all particulars of the petitioner from the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) database, local crime record, police verification databases and all connected digital or manual police archives concerning Crime No.42 of 2016 on the file of the All Women Police Station, Tambaram (Which culminated in C.C.No.151 of 2017) which was quashed by this Honourable Court in Crl.O.P..no.4118 of 2018 dated Page2 of 5 09.08.2021, Within a time frame to be stipulated by this Hon'ble Court and pass such further or other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper under the circumstances of the case. For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.Marimuthu for Mr.M.Balaji For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Rajasekaran, Government Advocate (Criminal Side)