POWER OF RTI

M K Gupta

An applicant, Amit has applied for passport on 2nd June and after waiting for about one and half months, he filed an RTI application, first appeal for information and complaint for non-receipt of reply. On 14th September, Regional Passport Office called him personally over phone and on demand, he submitted three personal particular forms and he was handed over passport the next day i.e on 15th though after there and half month. Applicant has not paid even a single paisa for the reissue of passport to anyone but spent some amount (about Rs. 100) for filing RTI application, appeal and complaint and got the passport.

The CPIO has given wrong information stating generally passport is issued within 40-45 days if the file is in order while the website state that the reissue (renewal) of passport takes 15 days and fresh passport take 30 days. (Obviously after the receipt of clear police verification). He has also stated that he has sent objection letter on 11th August which the applicant never received. The reply has also been pre-dated as this was booked by speed post on 10th Sept but the date on the letter mentioned is 26th August.

Seeing his success, one of his colleagues is also filing an RTI application. He told that he applied for the passport four months ago but had not heard any thing till date.