THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V. ESWARAIAH WRIT PETITION No.16076 OF 2005 Dated: 21-11-2005 Between Abdul Majeed, S/o. Mohd. Saber, Occ: Student, R/o. H.No.10-1-1021, AC Guards, Khairtabad, Hyderabad – 500 004. …PETITIONER AND The Chief Passport Officer, Passport Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi and another. …RESPONDENTS ORDER: This writ petition is filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the second respondent in revoking the passport No.A-7432731 and the action of the first respondent in not considering and disposing the appeal dated 09.05.2005 of the petitioner as illegal and arbitrary. It is the case of the petitioner that the he obtained a passport No.A-7432731 from the second respondent on 09.03.1999. Petitioner gave his passport to one Krishanaiah, in the month of February 2002, for processing of VISA. While so, the petitioner received a letter dated 13.06.2002 from the second respondent informing that his passport has been seized at Delhi by the first respondent and directed the second respondent to impound his passport. On 01.01.2000 (2005) the second respondent issued a letter informing the petitioner that his passport has been revoked on the allegation that the photograph in the passport has been replaced and found in wrongful possession. Thereafter, the petitioner after making certain correspondence ultimately filed an appeal dated 09.05.2005 before the first respondent for restoration of his passport and the first respondent issued a letter dated 13.05.2005 informing the petitioner that his appeal was received and advised him to await a further communication. It is further submitted that no orders have been passed by the first respondent with regard to the appeal proceedings No.VIII/402/App-Gen/05 on the file of the first respondent though the communication was received on 13.05.2005. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to pass appropriate orders on the said appeal filed by the petitioner as expeditiously as possible within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. ______________ V. ESWARAIAH, J November 21, 2005 Note: Furnish Copy in two days (B/o) DSK