IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC FRIDAY, THE 9TH DECEMBER 2011 / 18TH AGRAHAYANA 1933 WP(C).No. 32831 of 2011(D) -------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- MUHAMMED RAFI MECHERI, S/O.AVARAN KUTTY, PANAMPULLIL HOUSE, POST VELIMUKKU SOUTH, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADVS. SRI.R.SUDHISH SMT.M.MANJU SRI.K.R.RANJITH RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- PASSPORT OFFICER, PASSPORT OFFICE, MALAPPURAM, DOWN HILL POST, MALAPPURAM-676 519. ADV. SRI.P.PARAMESWARAN NAIR,ASG OF INDIA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/12/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: tss W.P.(C)NO.32831/2011 APPENDIX PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS P1- COPY OF THE SHOW CAUSE NOTICE DATED 17.3.2011 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER. P2- COPY OF THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY THE PETITIONER DATED 4.4.2011. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS NIL:- TRUE COPY P.A. TO JUDGE tss ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` W.P.(C) No. 32831 of 2011 D ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Dated this the 9th day of December, 2011 J U D G M E N T ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Petitioner claims to have obtained passport from the office of the respondent. It is also stated that he made an application on 02.07.2010 for its renewal. According to the petitioner, he was issued show cause notice dated 17.03.2011 alleging that in the application for renewal, he had suppressed the pendency of C.C.Nos.810/2010 and 811/2010 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Parappanangadi. On receipt of the show cause notice, petitioner submitted Ext.P2 reply. No decision has been taken by the respondent on the show cause notice and his application for renewal is also kept pending. It is in these circumstances, petitioner has approached this Court, seeking a direction for renewal of the passport. 2. I heard the Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent also. W.P.(C) No.32831/2011 : 2 : 3. In view of the fact that the petitioner is an accused in a criminal case, having regard to the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, necessarily the proceedings initiated pursuant to the show cause notice should be finalised. Once orders are passed in the show cause notice, depending upon the orders so passed, it is for the respondent to consider the application for renewal. Writ petition is disposed of, directing the respondent to finalise the proceedings pursuant to Ext.P1 show cause notice, in accordance with law and as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within four weeks from the date of production of a copy of this judgment. It is directed that, once orders are so passed, orders will also be passed on the application made by the petitioner for renewal of his passport. Sd/- (ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE) aks/09/12 // True Copy // P.A. To Judge