HC bins Pazha Nedumaran's appeal against rejection of passport renewal

A division bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Tamil nationalist leader and World Tamil Confederation president Pazha Nedumaran, after finding no infirmity in the order of a single judge who had directed him to approach the regional passport officer (RPO) with explanations to the adverse findings over the rejection of passport renewal.

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

In a 2024 order, the RPO rejected the renewal application on the grounds that the applicant's activities are detrimental to the country's interests and that his overseas visit would harm its international ties.

The bench of justices J Nisha Banu and M Jothiraman, in a recent order, noted that Nedumaran has approached the court before exhausting the alternative remedy available under the Passports Act. Advocate K S Jeyaganeshan appeared for the Ministry of External Affairs and Balan Haridas represented Pazha Nedumaran.