CWP No.17588 of 2010.doc - 1 – HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** CWP No.17588 of 2010 (O&M) Date of Decision: 08.11.2010 **** Banta Singh . . . . Petitioner VS. Union of India and others . . . . . Respondents **** CORAM : HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT **** 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? **** Present: Mr. Jagjit Singh, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. Darshan Bishnoi, Advocate for UOI Mr. K.D.S. Sidhu, DAG Punjab ***** SURYA KANT J. (ORAL) (1). The petitioner seeks a mandamus to direct the respondents to issue him the Passport for which he had applied on 30.11.2007. (2). On instructions from the Passport Officer, Jalandhar, learned counsel for respondent No.1 states that as soon as the recommendations from the police authorities would be received, the petitioner shall be issued the Passport subject to fulfillment of other eligibility conditions. (3). Sh. Sidhu, learned DAG Punjab, on instructions from Bakshi Ram, Sub Inspector, states that CWP No.17588 of 2010.doc - 2 – several criminal cases were registered against the petitioner and as per the police report the petitioner has been acquitted in 10 cases but the latest status of other 7 cases is unknown. (4). Learned counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, contends that in the remaining cases also, the petitioner has already earned acquittal from the Appellate Court and that not even a single case his conviction has been upheld. According to him, no other criminal case is pending against the petitioner who is stated to be an octogenarian. (5). In the light of their respective but categoric stand taken by the parties, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, to verify the status of the remaining criminal cases registered/pending against the petitioner and if it is found that the petitioner has already been acquitted in all the cases, a report/recommendations to this effect shall be made to the Regional Passport Officer, Jalandhar forthwith, who, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of such recommendations/report from the police, shall issue the Passport in favour of the petitioner. (6). Ordered accordingly. Dasti. CWP No.17588 of 2010.doc - 3 – 08.11.2010 Vishal shonkar (SURYA KANT) JUDGE