Madras High Court
WP/45863/2026 of PRIYANKA SARANGAN Vs The Regional Passport officer on 12 November 2026
WP No. 45863 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 12-11-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA
WP No. 45863 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA012691952026}
Priyanka Sarangan
D/o Sarangan
No 25B/18 /Rajeshwary 2nd Street,
Gokulapuram,
Chengalpattu - 603 001.
..Petitioner
Vs
1. The Regional Passport Officer
Ministry of External Affairs,
Government of India,
Regional Passport office, Chennai
Royala Towers No 2 and 3, IV Floor,
158 Anna Salai Chennai - 600 002.
2. The State
Rep by the Inspector of Police,
Town Police Station,
Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 001.
..Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondent to process the Application File No MA3067614066826 dated 29.10.2026 on the file of respondent herein, made by the petitioner as a single parent to her minor son by name Harshith Priyanka and process the Application File No MA3067614066826 dated 29.10.2026 on the file of the respondent herein, under Annexure C Declaration within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court and pass orders.
For Petitioner:
Mr.L.Santhosh Kumar
__________
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WP No. 45863 of 2026
For Respondents:
Mr.K.Thirukkumaran
Central Government Standing Counsel
for R1
Mr.s.Arun Pani
Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for R2
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ORDER
The writ petition is filed for the following relief : " To direct the respondent to process the Application File No MA3067614066826 dated 29.10.2026 on the file of respondent herein, made by the petitioner as a single parent to her minor son by name Harshith Priyanka and process the Application File No MA3067614066826 dated 29.10.2026 on the file of the respondent herein, under Annexure C Declaration within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court."
2. The petitioner herein is the mother of the minor child named Harshith Priyanka. The petitioner's marriage with S.Ranjith was dissolved by mutual consent in FCOP.No.284 of 2023 on the file of Family Court, Chengalpattu, by a decree dated 05.04.2024, in and by which, the custody of the minor child was entrusted to the petitioner-mother, while the biological father was granted visitation rights. Since the dissolution of marriage, the father had neither maintained a contact with the minor child.
3. The petitioner would submit that her minor son has an offer to travel to __________
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WP No. 45863 of 2026 Malaysia to participate in the Abacus Competition scheduled on 22.11.2026. Therefore, on 29.10.2026, the petitioner had submitted an application before the first respondent for issue of passport to her minor child and same was taken on file in Reference No.MA3067614066826. The petitioner would submit that she had enclosed the copy of the divorce decree dated 05.04.2024, declaring her marital status and custody of the child. The first respondent vide communication dated 30.10.2026 had sought clarification regarding the absence of the biological father's consent and omission of father's name in the passport application, and thereby kept the application pending on its file.
4. The petitioner would submit that despite the visitation rights being granted to the father, he had not visited the child after the passing of the decree in FCOP.No.284 of 2023 and his whereabouts is also not known to the petitioner. The grievance of the petitioner is that the delay in issuance of the passport would deprive of the child's valuable educational opportunity. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court with the aforesaid relief.
5. Heard the learned counsels on either side and also perused the materials placed on record.
6. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner- mother has no objection to the name of the father to be included in the passport, __________
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WP No. 45863 of 2026 however, her only grievance is that she is not in a position to obtain the consent from the biological father, as his whereabouts are not known to the petitioner.
7. Considering the case of the petitioner-mother that pursuant to the decree of divorce granted in FCOP No.284 of 2023 by the Family Court, Chengalpattu, the father had never visited the child and also the fact that the petitioner is not aware of the whereabouts of minor son's father Ranjith, the respondents are directed to process the application of the petitioner to grant passport to her minor child Harshith Priyanka, upon the petitioner submitting an affidavit that the father of the child has not exercised his visitation rights granted to him by the Family Court, Chengalpattu. The respondents are, upon receipt of this affidavit, directed to issue passport to the petitioner within a period of one week from today.
8. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 12-11-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No DS Note : Issue order copy (13.11.2026) __________
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WP No. 45863 of 2026 To:
1. The Regional Passport Officer Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Regional Passport office, Chennai Royala Towers No 2 and 3, IV Floor, 158 Anna Salai Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Inspector of Police, Town Police Station, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603 001. __________
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WP No. 45863 of 2026 P.T.ASHA J. DS WP No. 45863 of 2026 12-11-2026 __________
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