Mohammed Mydeen Mn v. The Regional Passport Officer

ORDER This Writ Petition has been filed seeking the issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to take necessary and immediate steps to renewal the passport bearing Registration No.P8915758 based on the representation dated 09.06.2026 by the petitioner within a time stipulated by this Court.

¶2Heard Mr. S.Suresh Manickam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. S.M.Ashok, learned Central Government Standing Counsel, who accepts notice on behalf of the first respondent.

¶3By consent of both parties, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

¶4The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was issued Passport No. P8915758 on 23.03.2017. Subsequently, pursuant to an administrative communication received from the petitioner's employer, the respondent directed the petitioner to surrender his passport within 21 days on the ground that disciplinary proceedings under Rule 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules were proposed against him. In compliance with the said direction, the petitioner surrendered his passport to the respondent.

¶5It is the further submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner attained the age of superannuation and retired from service on 30.04.2018. Thereafter, the order of suspension came to be revoked on

31.12.2025. Though the disciplinary proceedings are proposed to continue under Rule 9 of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, there is no provision in law for retaining the petitioner's passport merely on that ground. It is further submitted that during the period the passport remained in the custody of the respondent, the validity of the passport expired. The petitioner has therefore submitted an application seeking renewal of the passport along with a representation dated 09.06.2026 requesting the respondent to renew and return the passport. Since no orders have been passed on the said request, the petitioner has approached this Court.

¶6The learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent submitted that the petitioner's application for renewal of passport and his representation dated 09.06.2026 will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passports Rules, and appropriate orders will be passed within a reasonable time.

¶7Considering the limited prayer sought for by the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's claim, this Court is inclined to issue the following direction.

¶8Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the respondent to consider the petitioner's application for renewal of Passport No. P8915758, along with his representation dated 09.06.2026, and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. If there is no legal impediment for renewal of the passport, the respondent shall renew the passport and return the same to the petitioner. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs.

09.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No TSG To The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathiula Street, Race Course Street, Madurai-625 002.

M.DHANDAPANI, J. TSG

09.07.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 09.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI M.N.Mohammed Mydeen ... Petitioner Vs The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Bharathiula Street, Race Course Street, Madurai-625 002. ... Respondent PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondent to take necessary and immediate steps to renewal the passport bearing Registration No.P8915758 based on the representation dated 09.06.2026 by the petitioner within a time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Suresh Manickam For Respondent : Mr.S.M.Ashok, CGSI