THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO W.P.No.23638 OF 2011 ORDER: None appears for the petitioner. Heard Ms. Mani Deepika, learned Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government, for the respondent. This writ petition is filed seeking a writ of mandamus to direct the respondent – Regional Passport Officer, Secunderabad, to renew the Indian Passport of the writ petitioner and to release the same. The case of the petitioner is that he holds Indian Passport bearing No. 5173871, the validity of which expired on 14-03-2011. On 22-03-2011, the petitioner applied for renewal of his Indian Passport. His Application for renewal was acknowledged by furnishing him the following number H.U.D.L.003443, dated 22-03- 2011. Since renewed Indian Passport has not been issued, he filed this writ petition as he intended to undertake Umrah Pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in August, 2011. The respondent has filed a detailed counter affidavit in the matter. It is stated in para 3 thereof that the renewal application of the petitioner has been sent up for verification by the local police and the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, furnished an endorsement disclosing that the writ petitioner is involved in Criminal Case No.3 of 2010 registered under Sections 147, 148, 307 r/w 149 of the Indian Penal Code on the file of Hussaini Alam Police Station, on 03-01-2010. It is further reported that he was arrested, but later on, enlarged on bail. The writ petitioner is presently facing prosecution with regard to the above-referred crime before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad. Upon receipt of the report from the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, when the application of the petitioner was verified, no such information has been furnished by him against Column No.17(b). He has furnished his answer “NO” against the said column, which, in fact, required him to disclose the criminal proceedings pending against him, if any. Since, the writ petitioner has suppressed this vital information, while seeking renewal of his Indian Passport and in view of the fact that he is now involved in a criminal case, which is still pending, his case is attracted to Clause (f) of Sub-Section (2) of Section 6 of the Passports Act, 1967, by virtue of which, the Regional Passport Authority was entitled to refuse to issue the Indian Passport or Travel Document for visiting any foreign country. In this view of the matter, the action of the respondent authority in not renewing or issuing the Indian Passport to the petitioner cannot be described as illegal. Hence, this writ petition is dismissed, but however, without costs. --------------------------------- Nooty Ramamohana Rao, J mrk 17th October 2011