Observing that pendency of a criminal case against a person cannot be a ground to deny renewal of passport, Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court on Friday instructed the Regional Passport Officer (RPO-Hyderabad) to consider the application of a 53-year-old Mancherial resident.
The judge directed the RPO to consider the application of petitioner Ravikanti Venkatesham for renewal of his passport within a week of receiving the order copy. Mr. Venkatesham, who is facing trial in a cheating case before Second Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Mancherial, said in his writ petition that he had applied for renewal of his passport in January this year.
The RPO informed the applicant that his passport cannot be renewed since he was involved in a criminal case. Challenging this decision, the applicant moved the HC, contending that the RPO’s decision was unconstitutional and against the principles of natural justice. Disposing of the petition, the judge noted that the right to personal liberty included not only the right to travel but also that of the right to possess a passport.
