No need to visit police station for passport verification, RTI reveals

Surat: If you are applying for a passport, you may not have to visit the police station for passport verification. This information has been revealed by an RTI activist, who obtained the government documents clarifying the role of the police in the passport verification process.

Sanjay Ezhava, a resident of Surat, filed an RTI with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India,  seeking information on the police verification of passports. He was motivated to do so after witnessing the difficulties faced by many passport applicants at the police stations in Gujarat.

Ezhava received a reply, which stated that the police verification is only meant to check the applicant’s nationality (citizenship) and criminal case, and not their identity, address, or documents. The reply also stated that the police do not have to meet the applicant in person or obtain their signature, unless necessary. The police are supposed to visit the applicant’s residence and conduct the verification there.

Ezhava shared the information with the public through social media, hoping to create awareness and ease the passport application process. He said that many people are unaware of the rules and are harassed by the police or middlemen, who demand money or documents from them. He urged the passport applicants to know their rights and not to fall prey to such practices.

The Passport Office also confirmed that the police verification is done online through a portal, and the applicants can track the status of their verification on the website. The Passport Office said that the police verification is a crucial step to ensure the security and integrity of the passport system, and requested the cooperation of the applicants and the police in this regard.

As per a clarification sent by the Regional Passport Office, Ahmedabad to all the Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of Gujarat dated 20.11.2018, the following are the items to be verified by the police in all applications for passport verification.

1. Only the applicant’s nationality (citizenship) and criminal case should be investigated.
2. As the identity of the applicant has been verified by the Passport Office/Post Office Passport Service Centre, the police will not have to do any work in this regard.
3. There is no need for the police to make any verification regarding the address of the applicant.
4. There is no requirement for the police to meet the applicant in person or obtain the applicant’s signature.
5. However, if necessary, the police may visit the applicant or his residence in any case.
6. Verification of documentary evidence is done by Passport Office or Post Office Passport Office, so that in a particular case there is no need to verify any document unless the Police is instructed by the Passport Office.
7. The inquiry as to whether the applicant is involved in any criminal proceedings or is a citizen of India for refusal of passport under Section 6(2) of the Passport Act shall be made only by the police.