Telangana High Court
WP/40585/2025 of Rajamallu Vodnala Vs The Union of India on 29 January 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD (Special Original J urisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY NINTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENW SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION NO: 40585 OF 202s Between Rajamallu Vodnala, S/o. Ellaiah Vodnala, Aged
[ 3300 J
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD
(Special Original J urisdiction)
THURSDAY, THE TWENTY NINTH DAY OF JANUARY
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENW SIX
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA
WRIT PETITION NO: 40585 OF 202s
Between
Rajamallu Vodnala, S/o. Ellaiah Vodnala, Aged 59 years, Occ. Business, R/o.
H.No. 3-80, Sitharampally, Teegalapahad, Naspur, Mancherial District
...PETITIONER
AND
1. The Union of lndia, Rep by its Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, 23 D
Janpath Road Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat New Delhi 110011
2. The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office Hyderabad D No. 8- 2-215 to 219 Kummarguda Secunderabad 500003 Telangana
3. Gouramma Padam, Wo. Gangaiah, Aged 62 years, R/o. Seetarampalle, Naspur Town, Mancherial District.
4. Vodnala Swarpua, Wo.Rayamallu, Aged 42years, R/o. Bandampalli Village, Peddapalli District.
(Respondent Nos.3 & 4 are impleaded as per C.O.dt.09.01.2026 in lA
No.1/2026)
...RESPONDENTS
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstanQes stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the. High Court may be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly ong in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in issuing the impugned proceedings No. HYD/30/POL/P1U154412025, dated 18.12.2025, calling upon the petitioner to surrender his renewed passport bearing No.AF721985 as highly iltegal, arbitrary, contrary to taw, apart from violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of lndia, consequently set aside the same proceedings No.
HYD/30/POUPIL/1 54412025, dated 18.12.2025.
lA NO: I OF 2025
Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to grant interim suspension of the impugned proceedings No. HYD/30/POL/PlL/154412025, dated 18.12.2025, issued by the 2nd respondent, pending disposal of the above writ petition.
Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI N.INDRASENA REDDY
Counsel for the Respondent Nos.l & 2: SRI ANGOTHU NEHRU, SG FOR
CENTRAL GOVT FOR SRI N.BHUJANGA RAO, DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL
OF INDIA
Counselfor the Respondent Nos.3 & 4: - - - The Court made the following: ORDER
a)
IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
AT HYDERABAD
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA
WRIT PETITION No.4O585 of 2o25
29.OL.2026
Between:
Rajamallu Vodnala
...Petitioner
AND
The Union of India,
Rep. by its Secreta4r,
Ministry of External Affairs,
23 D Janpath Road Rajpath Area,
Central Secretariat, New Delhi and 3 others
...Respondents
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ORDER:
The Writ Petition is filed challenging the action of Respondent No.2 in issuing the impugned proceedings dated L8.12.2025, calling upon the petitioner to surrender his renewed passport bearing No.AF721985, on the ground of pendency of criminal case.
2. Heard Sri N.Indrasena Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Angothu Nehru, learned Standing Counsel for \ _._* Central Government, appearing for Sri N.Bhujanga Rao, learned ) NBKJ \\'P_4058i_2025 Deputy Soiicitor General of India, for respondent Nos.l and 2 Perused the record.
3. The specific case of petitioner is that the petitioner was issued'a passport on 16.11 .1987, which was renewed from time tc time and was valid up to 21.09.2025, and upon expiry, he applied for re-issuance on 22.O8.2025. The application was processed, and a renerved passport r,vas issued for the period from 28.08.2025 to
27. O8.2O35. Subsequently, the 2"d respondent/Regional Passport Office issued a sho',v cause notice dated 1 1. 1 1 .2025 seeking certain clarifications regarding the issuance of passport facilities to the petitioner, to which he submitted a detailed reply on 09.12.2025 through RPAD dated 1O.12.2025. Despite furnishing the explanation, the Regional Passport Office, without considering the sarne properly issued impugned proceedings dated L8.12.2025, insisting the petitioner to surrender the renewed passport dated '28.08.2025 within 1s days. Aggrieved by the said action, the petitioner filed the present writ petition, contending that the alleged non-disclosure of a pending matrimonial dispute was based on a bona fide belief, as he has not been convicted and the case is stilt under trial.
J NBK,J wP 405E5 2025
4. Learned counsel for petitioner further submits that mere arraignment of the petitioner in a criminal case cannot be a ground for denial of passport. He relies on the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.2469O of 2025, dated 03.O9.2025.
5. Learned standing counsel for the respondents submits that petitioner is involved in crime No.43 of 2021 under Section 498-A, 326, 324, 29o of IPC of Naspur Police station and the case is pending trial before the Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, at Mancherial vide C.C.No.286 of 2021.
6. Having considered the respective submissions, in the light of the judgment of the coordinate Bench of this Court in W.p.No.5182 of 2024 dated 04.o3.2024, and the purpose for which the passport is sought by the petitioner, this writ Petition is disposed of, directing the 2.d respondent to re-consider the reply /explanation dated 09.12.2025 furnished by the petitioner in response to the show-cause notice dated 1 1. 1 1 .2025, and to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within a period. two (02) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs.
l NBK,J wP 40585 2025 Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. SD/- T.SRINIVASA REDDY ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ['r //TRUE COPY/ 6 SECTION OFFICER To,
6. PMK PSK
1. The secretary, Union.of lndia, Minjgtry 9f !{ernalAffairs, 23 D Janpath Road Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat Nefi Delhi 1 1001 1 ' -
2. I[",Bgg,gnal.Passport offic_er, Regionat fqqsport office Hyderabad D No. 8_ 2-215 to 219 Kummarguda secund1rabad socio-oi ieringrhi
3. one cc to sRl N.TNDRASENA REDDy, Advocate [opUC]
4. one cc to SRtANGOTHU NEHRU, sc FoR CENTRAL Gow. topucl
5. one cc to sRl N.BHUJANGA RAo, DEpury soltctroR GENERAL oF tND|A [OPUC] Two CD Copies
; i ! i : I I I I I tI I II / n HIGH COURT DATED:2910112026 CC TOD Y o ER WP.No.40585 of 2025 DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS @- j-Ks tL$ I qb + LOF Dlr D sf,f ,e