IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 17589 of 2009 Between: Smt Ch. Pavani @ Prashanthi. ..... PETITIONER. AND The Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, South Block, New Delhi and others. .....RESPONDENTS. ORDER: The petitioner claims two fold relief viz, that the passport of her husband be impounded or cancelled and that the respondents be directed to trace her passport. The petitioner is the wife of the 7th respondent. Their marriage took place in the year 2005. They started living in United States. However, differences have arisen between them and that lead to institution of various proceedings. Though the petitioner has come back to India, the 7th respondent is said to be still in United States. It is stated that he obtained another passport from Consulate General of India in United States. The petitioner states that criminal complaints are pending against the 7th respondent and though number of petitions were submitted to respondents 1 to 6 to impound the passport of the 7th respondent, no action has been taken. The petitioner further states that as a vindictive measure, her in-laws have taken away her passport and despite a request made to respondents 3 to 6 to trace the same, no action has been taken thereon. Hence, the writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government, the learned Government Pleader for Home and the learned counsel for the 7th respondent. It has already been mentioned that the petitioner’s prayer is two fold relief. So far as the first one is concerned, this Court cannot grant any relief. The reason is that the passport was issued by the Consulate General of India in United States and that the 7th respondent is in that country. At any rate, the Assistant Passport Officer, addressed a communication letter dated 03.12.2009 to the Consular General, with a request to impound the passport of the 7th respondent. With this, the grievance of the petitioner in that regard stands redressed. So far as the second limb of the relief is concerned, it is just impermissible for this Court to direct search of the house of the in-laws of the petitioner to trace the passport. For that purpose, the petitioner has to approach the criminal Court with specific application. Hence, the Writ Petition is disposed of, taking on record the communication letter, dated 03.12.2009, sent by the Assistant Passport Officer. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Date:05.12.2009 sj