This article is written by Team LawSikho. 

Introduction

We are often running from TCS’ Passport Seva Kendra to Regional Passport Office to the police office to find out the status of our passport. In such cases filing an RTI application would not only save you from running around everywhere but it is likely to increase your chances of obtaining passport sooner. For checking the status of your passport application you may file your RTI application online in writing or through electronic means by visiting online RTI Portal https://rtionline.gov.in/. The official website http://www.passportindia.gov.in prescribes the following format for filing RTI application and the same is discussed below.

SAMPLE APPLICATION FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO PASSPORT OFFICE UNDER RTI ACT 2005

(taken in the context of passport applications)

To:

The Chief Public Information Officer/ Public Information Officer

CPV Division/ Regional Passport Officer/ Passport Officer [●]

1. Full Name of the Applicant (in capital letters) [●]
2. Father’s/Husband Name (in capital letters) [●]
3. Complete address and pincode: [●]
4. Telephone No.: Office [●] Res.[●] Mobile [●]
5. Whether belong to BPL category (if yes, please attach a copy of the BPL/Antyodaya ration card (please tick): Yes /No to claim a waiver of the application fee)
6. Details of Application Fee/Addl. Fee:- (Application Fee – Rs.10/-; Addl. Fee – @Rs.2/- per page for A-4 size paper created or copied, by Cash, DD/BC/IPO to be drawn in favour of ‘Accounts Officer, Ministry of External Affairs, if the application is submitted at the CPV Division, Patiala House, New Delhi or Passport Officer ’ payable at local office where the application is submitted Cash Receipt/ DD/Bankers Cheque / IPO No Date Name of the issuing Bank/Authority Amount (Rs.) [●]
7. Particulars of information required (please enclose separate sheet, if required, indicating specific details of information required and the preferred medium i.e. inspection, photocopy, soft copy,etc.) [●]

DECLARATION: I state that the information sought does not fall within the restriction contained in Section 8 & 9 of the RTI Act and to the best of my knowledge it pertains to your office.

Place:[●] Date:[●]

Types of questions that can be asked :

You may consider asking some or all of the following sample questions in your application if you want to know the status of your passport application:

1. Progress made on my application till date of your reply.
2. Names, designations and office addresses of the officials with whom my application was lying during this period and date-wise period with each official and action taken by him/her.
3. Please give evidence of receipt and dispatch of my application in the offices of each of these officials.
4. Please inform me, according to your rules or citizens charter or any other order, number of days in which such a matter should have been dealt with and resolved. Please also provide a copy of these rules.

If your passport has not arrived within the prescribed limit set, you can also ask for the following information in your applications:  

1. In case no action has been initiated for dereliction of duties against erring officials, the reasons made known to me.

It is always helpful to know the details of the police department handling your verification process as you may want to file RTI Application with them for checking the status of your verification process. In that case, you can add the following question to your application

2. Please inform me the name of the police station/dept to whom the application was referred for police verification with an outward number, date of dispatch and date when the reply was received by you. Photocopy of the letter addressed to the police for verification and proof of mailing be submitted to me.

Further, if you want to understand the usual process and timelines of the passport office or want to collect statistical data for some purpose, you can ask these questions as well:

3. Please inform me the number of complaints for the delay in issuing/renewing passports was received against your office in the last one year or last financial year.