Telangana High Court
WP/975/2026 of Gunapati Deepak Reddy, Vs Union of India, on 3 February 2026
3300 ] IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION O: 975 OF 2026 Between: Gunapati Deepak Reddy, S/o. Late Sri
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IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
TUESDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF FEBRUARY
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA
WRIT PETITION
O: 975 OF 2026
Between:
Gunapati Deepak Reddy, S/o. Late Sri Padmanabha Reddy, Age 52 years, Occ: SEEDAP Chairman, A.P., R/o. 8-2-2931821AL125, Plot No.25, Ashwini Layout, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
...PETITIONER
AND
1. Union of lndia, Rep. by Under Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, South Block, New Delhi.
2. The Regional Passport Officer, D.No.5-2-215 to 218, Adjacent to Prashanth Theatre, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500 015.
3. Smt N.P.R.Padmavathy, W/o. Sri N.Ranga Reddy, age 57 years, Occ:
.Managing Director, SAS lnfra Projects (lndia) Pvt. Ltd., 8-3-988/34/4, Opp.
Lane to lClCl Bank, Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad.
Respondent No.3 impleaded as per C.O. dt. 03.02.2026 in 1.A.No.212026
...RESPONDENTS
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ, Order, or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of [t/andamus declaring the action of the Respondent No. 2 in refusing to renew the Petitioners passport vide bearing No. 23593900 for a period of 10 years, on the ground of pendency of criminal case in C.C. No.410 of 2017 on the file of the Xll Additional Chief Metropolitan Nlagistrate, Nampally is violative of the Petitioners fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of lndia and consequently direct the respondents to renew / reissue Petitioners passport vide bearing No.
23593900 fo'a period of 10 years validity.
I.A. NO: 1 Ol= 2026
Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Courl may be pleased to direct the Respondent No. 2 to renew / reissue the Petitioners passporl vide bearing No.
23593900 fo'a period of 10 years validity without referring to pendency of C.C.
No.410 of 2()17 on the file of the Xll Additional Chief Metropolitan lVagistrate, Nampally, pending disposal of the main writ petition.
Counsel for l:he Petitioner: SRI SHIVA KUMAR.G
Counsel for the Respondent No.1 & 2: SMT N.V.R.RAJYA LAKSHMI, SC FOR CENTRAL GOVT. REP.
SRI N.BHUJANGA RAO,
DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA
The Court m:rde the following: ORDER
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMA}-AKA
I'v
o3.o2.2026
Between:
Gunapati Deepak Redd-v
...Petitioner
AND
Union of India,
Rep.bv its under Secretafl,,,
iVlinistr;* of External Affairs,
South Block, New Delhi and 2 others
...Respondents
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ORDER:
The Writ Petition is filed challenging the action of Respondent l'1o.2 in not renewing the petitioner's passport uide application No.HY3075L84O45725, dated 1A.06.2025, on the ground of pendency of criminal case.
2. Heard Sri G.Shiva Kumar, learned counsel for petitioner, Smt N.V.R.Rajya Lakshmi, learned Standing Counsel for Central Government representing Sri N.Bhujanga Rao, learned Deputy .; r,ip;"$,I.,; i :.
NBKJ wP_975 2026 Solicitor General of India, for respondent Nos.1 and 2. Perused the record.
3. Learned counsel lor petitioner submits that mere arraignment of the petitioner in a criminal case can:iot bc a ground for denial of passport. He relies on the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.2469O of 2025, rlated 03.O9.2025.
4. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents submits that criminal rlo.Se is pencling against the petitioner vide C.C.No.410 of 2017 before the learned XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrat=, Nampall1, and therefore refusal to reneu, the petitioner's passport irs per Rules cannot be said to be illegal.
5. Be that as it ma.v, considering the judgment of the coordinate Bench of this dourt in W.P.No.24690 of 2025, dated O3.O9.2O25, and the purpose for which the passport is being requested by the petitioner, this Court directs the respondent No.2 to renew the passport trr the petitioner on the following conditions:
i) The petitioner herein shall submit an undertaking along with arr aflidavit in C.C.No.41O of 2OL7, pending on the file of the learnecl XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally., stating that he shall not leave India during pendency of the said C.C., without permission of the Court and that he shall cooperate with tr:ial Court in concluding the proceedings in the said C.C;
ii) On filing such an undertaking as well as affidavit, the trial court shall issue a certified copy of the same within two (2) weeks l:herefrom;
iiil The petitioner herein shall submit an application afresh along with the aforesaid undertaking before the Passport Oflicer / Authority concerned for renewing the passportl
iv) On filing such an application with the undertaking, the Passport Officer/ Authority shall consider the same afresh .l:rly cossidering the contents of the undertaking given by the petitioner for renewal of the passport, in accordance with law, withia three (O3l weeks from the date of filing the said application along rvith the undertaking.
v) On renewal .,f the passport, the petitioner herein shall deposit the original relewal passport before the trial court in C.C.No.41O of 2017. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner herein to file an application before the learned Magistrate seeking permission to travel abroad, and it is for the learned Magistrate to consider the same, in accordance with law.
6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be NI]K.J wP 975 l()t6 R Block, New Delhi, no order as to costs Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed SD/-P.PONNA KRISH TANT RE /TRUE COPY// CTION OFFICER To, BSR ;N\
1. The Under Secretary, ltlinistry of External Affairs, Union of lndia.
2. The Regional Passport Officer, D.No.5-2-215 to 218, Adjacent to Prashanth Theatre, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500 015'
3. The Xll Additional Chief tr/etropolitan I\Iagistrate, Nampally.
4. One CC to SRI SHIVA KUIVAR.G, Advocate [OPUC]
5. ONE CC tO SRI N.BHUJANGA RAO, DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF lNDlA, High court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad [oPUC]
6. Two CD CoPies TKS
HIGH CI)URT DATED: 0310212026
ORDER
WP.No.975 of 2026 I ( lHE S 1 ? I'ifl8 7l.l2[ rC C) * * DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION, WITHOUT COSTS 6J . [r[ 2,c i .i, ,tl. '