Facts of the Case

Chinnam Ramaradha Reddy, described in the cause title as a businessman possessing a GST registration number (mentioned purely as a personal/professional identifying detail), challenged the refusal of the Regional Passport Officer to renew his passport (originally issued in 2013, expired 29.10.2022) despite his renewal application dated 31.12.2022. The refusal was linked to his involvement in a pending criminal case (Crime No. 139/2014 under Section 420 IPC, the AP Gaming Act 1974, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Birds and Animals Act 1960). This is entirely a passport-law dispute; the GST number mentioned has no bearing on the case.

Issues Involved

  1. Whether the denial of passport renewal, on account of a pending criminal case, was illegal and violative of the petitioner's fundamental rights.

Petitioner's Arguments

  • The refusal to renew the passport was illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967 and relevant precedents allowing renewal despite pending criminal cases in some circumstances.

Respondent's Arguments

  • Not separately elaborated in the excerpted order — the matter was resolved by directing the petitioner to the criminal court where the underlying case was pending.

Court Order / Findings

  • The Court directed the petitioner to approach the concerned criminal court where proceedings in Crime No. 139/2014 were pending and make an appropriate application in accordance with law.
  • The concerned court was directed to dispose of such application as expeditiously as possible.
  • The writ petition was disposed of, with no costs.

Important Clarification

This ruling has nothing to do with GST — the GST registration number mentioned in the cause title is simply part of how the petitioner's business profession was described, not a subject of the dispute. The actual outcome relegates the passport question to the criminal court handling the pending case, which will determine whether the passport can be renewed.

Sections Involved

  • Passports Act, 1967, Section 6(2)(f)
  • Constitution of India, Article 226

Decision – In Favour of

Disposed of without a final decision on merits — the petitioner was directed to seek appropriate relief from the criminal court where the underlying case is pending.

Case Details

  • Court: High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati
  • Case Number: Writ Petition No. 14295 of 2023
  • Coram: Justice Ravi Cheemalapati
  • Date of Order: 20.06.2023

Link to Download the Order

Click here to view/download the full order

Disclaimer

This content is shared strictly for general information and knowledge purposes only. Readers should independently verify the information from reliable sources. It is not intended to provide legal, professional, or advisory guidance. The author and the organisation disclaim all liability arising from the use of this content. The material has been prepared with the assistance of AI tools.