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(iii) In the cases for renewal, to which Section 6 (2)

(f) of the Passports Act is attracted, i.e., where the applicant is facing criminal trial in a criminal Court in India, renewal of the passport shall be refused, subject to the fulfillment of the condition under the notification of the Central Government, dated 25.08.1993, issued in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 22 of the Passports Act, upon which such applicant shall stand exempted from the operation of the provisions of Clause (f) of sub section (2) of Section 6;

"6. Refusal of passports, travel documents, etc.-- (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the passport authority shall refuse to make an endorsement for visiting any foreign country under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-

section (2) of section 5 on any one or more of the following grounds, and on no other ground, namely:--

(a) that the applicant may, or is likely to, engage in such country in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India;

(b) that the presence of the applicant in such country may, or is likely to, be detrimental to the security of India;

(c) that the presence of the applicant in such country may, or is likely to, prejudice the friendly relations of India with that or any other country;

(d) that in the opinion of the Central Government the presence of the applicant in such country is not in the public interest.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the passport authority shall refuse to issue a passport or travel document for visiting any foreign country under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 5 on any one or more of the following grounds, and on no other ground, namely:--

(h) that the applicant has been repatriated and has not reimbursed the expenditure incurred in connection with such repatriation;

(i) that in the opinion of the Central Government the issue of a passport or travel document to the applicant will not be in the public interest."

(Emphasis supplied) Section 6 deals with refusal of passport and travel documents etc. Section 6(2)(f) mandates that if proceedings are pending in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the applicant before a criminal Court in India, the passport authority would have the right to refuse issue of passport or travel documents for visiting any foreign country. Therefore, issuance of passport or re-issuance of passport is subject to Section 6(2)(f) of the Act.