Mere Pendency of FIR Not a Bar for Passport Renewal or Reissue: Andhra Pradesh High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has clarified that the mere pendency of a criminal case—without the court taking cognisance—cannot be a valid reason for denying renewal or reissuance of a passport under the Passports Act, 1967. This significant ruling was passed by Justice Subba Reddy Satti, who directed the Regional Passport Officer, Vijayawada, to process the petitioner’s passport application without reference to the pending crime. Petitioner’s Application Rejected Due to…