IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN THURSDAY, THE 22ND JULY 2010 / 31ST ASHADHA 1932 WP(C).No. 20240 of 2010(D) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- PAREETH, AGED 57 YEARS, S/O.MUHAMMED, MANAYIL HOUSE, ERUMATHALA KARA, ALUVA EAST VILLAGE, ALUVA TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.V.JOY RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, KOCHI. 2. UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS NEW DELHI. ADV. SHRI.JAMES KURIAN, CGC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/07/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J. ------------------------------ W.P.(C) No.20240 OF 2010 ------------------------------- Dated this the 22nd day of July, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioner seeks a passport for undertaking Hajj pilgrimage. But in view of the pendency of a criminal case against him, the Passport Officer is not considering his application for the same. 2. I have heard the learned Central Government Counsel appearing for the Passport Officer also. He submits that as per the rules, when a criminal case is pending, the applicant has to produce a No Objection Certificate from the Court concerned. He further submits that if the petitioner produces a No Objection Certificate from the Court concerned, the petitioner's application for passport would be considered and orders passed. 3. In the above circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of with the following directions: If the petitioner files a proper application before the concerned criminal court for No Objection Certificate regarding issue of a passport notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal W.P.(c)No.20240/10 2 case, the criminal court shall consider and pass orders on the application for NOC within two weeks from the date of filing of the same. On production of the NOC, the Passport Officer shall consider and pass orders on the application for passport submitted by the petitioner within another two weeks of production of the NOC. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE acd W.P.(c)No.20240/10 3