IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI THURSDAY, THE 16TH OCTOBER 2008 / 24TH ASWINA 1930 WP(C).No. 29735 of 2008(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. KHADER PILLAI, 45 YEARS, S/O.MUHAMMED KALATHINALMUNDETH KARUKULAM , VILANGU PO., PATTIMATTOM VILLAGE. 2. ABDUL KAREEM, 48 YEARS, S/O.AVARAN VARAP OTH HOUSE, KARUKULAM, VILANGU PO., PATTIMATTOM. BY ADV. SRI.ESM.KABEER RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER PASSPORT OFFICE, KOCHI. 2. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KUNNATHUNADU POLICE STATION. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.P.N.SANTHOSH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 16/10/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V. GIRI, J. ------------------------------- WP(C).NO. 29735 of 2008 --------------------------------- Dated this the 16th day of October, 2008 JUDGMENT The petitioners made applications for passport to enable them to proceed on Hajj Pilgrimage. The passports are not issued apparently on the ground that they are implicated in criminal cases as evidenced by Exts.P1 and P2. Mere registration of a crime should not stand in the way of issuance of the passport. At any rate the purpose for which the passport is required is a relevant consideration. 2. In the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to issue the passport sought for by the petitioners to enable them to proceed on Hajj Pilgrimage. It is open to the first respondent to make it clear that the passport shall be used by the petitioners only to proceed for Hajj. It is also open to the first respondent to impose a condition requiring the petitioners to surrender the passport either before the first respondent or before the concerned criminal court after their return from Hajj. V. GIRI, JUDGE. pmn/ a WPC. /2008 2