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Summary of Judgment

Case: Zubair Ahmad Khan vs. Union of India through Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs & Others

Case No.: Writ-C No. 5679 of 2026

Court: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

Coram: Hon’ble Shekhar B. Saraf, J. and Hon’ble Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary, J.

Date of Judgment: 29.05.2026

Facts

1. The petitioner, Zubair Ahmad Khan, approached the High Court seeking renewal of his passport.
2. His passport had been issued on 23.02.2016 and expired on 22.02.2026.
3. The petitioner was residing in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
4. Certain criminal cases were pending against him; however, according to the petitioner, they were petty in nature.
5. It was also submitted that due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, courier services were disrupted, making it difficult for the petitioner to obtain a vakalatnama and move an application before the trial court.

Issue

Whether the pendency of petty criminal cases could be treated as a bar to renewal of the petitioner’s passport.

Findings of the Court

1. The Court considered the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case.
2. It observed that the criminal cases pending against the petitioner were of a petty nature and, therefore, should not operate as a hindrance to renewal of the passport.
3. Considering the petitioner’s residence abroad and the practical difficulties arising from the Middle East situation, the Court found it appropriate to grant relief.

Operative Directions

The High Court directed:

1. The passport authorities to renew the petitioner’s passport within four weeks from the date of production of a certified copy of the order.
2. The renewed passport shall be issued only for a period of two years.

Result

1. Writ Petition Allowed/Disposed of with Directions.
2. Passport renewal ordered notwithstanding the pendency of petty criminal cases, subject to the limitation that the passport would be valid for two years only.

One-Line Legal Ratio

Pendency of criminal cases of a petty nature does not necessarily bar renewal of a passport, particularly where special circumstances justify the grant of limited renewal.

This judgment can be useful in passport-renewal matters where minor criminal proceedings are pending and the applicant is residing abroad.

Whether the pendency of petty criminal cases could be treated as a bar to renewal of the petitioner’s passport

Writ C No. 5679 of 2026

Zubair Ahmad Khan Vs Union of India

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