IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.14382 OF 2008 DATED:07.09.2010 Between: Chennaboyina Raghavendra … Petitioner And Government of India Rep. by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs New Delhi and another … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.14382 OF 2008 ORDER: Though the case is listed in the interlocutory matters, at the request of the learned counsel for the parties the writ petition itself is being disposed of finally. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction by way of Mandamus to direct the second respondent – Regional Passport Authority to correct the date of birth of the petitioner as 4.9.1986 instead of 4.9.1985 entered in his Passport bearing No.A-4749470. It is the case of the petitioner that he was born on 4.9.1986 and the same is reflected in the school records, including the certificate issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). When he made an application in the year 1998 for issuance of Passport, the same was issued by showing his date of birth as 4.9.1985 instead of 4.9.1986. It is the case of the petitioner that it is a bona fide mistake and when he wanted to apply for correction of the date of birth, the second respondent refused to receive the application. This Court in Durgempudi Venkata Raghava v. Passport Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, Passport Office, Hyderabad[1], considering the scope of Circular Instructions/Clarifications dated 18-4-2001 issued by the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, has observed that bona fide mistake can be corrected as per Clause (a) of the Circular Instructions dated 18-04-2001 and the application for correction of date of birth as sought for has to be considered. It is also fairly conceded by the learned counsel appearing for the respondents that the claim of the petitioner falls within the scope of the Circular Instructions dated 18-4-2001. Following the judgment referred to above, the petitioner is permitted to make an application along with the original copy of his Passport to the second respondent seeking correction of his date of birth in the Passport within a period of two weeks from today. If such an application is filed, the second respondent shall consider the same, with reference to the supporting material filed by the petitioner, particularly the certificate issued by the CBSE, and issue fresh Passport by making necessary correction with regard to the date of birth, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the application from the petitioner. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. _____________________ R. SUBHASH REDDY, J 07.09.2010 bnr [1] 2005(1) ALT 751