Mr.Ashok Kumar vs Ministry Of External Affairs, … on 17 December, 2008

            Central Information Commission
                                                 CIC/OK/C/2008/345/AD

                                                 Dated December 17, 2008

Name of the Appellant           :      Mr.Ashok Kumar
                                       S/o Shri Sudarshan Prasad
                                       Nai Basti
                                       Mahadeva
                                       Siwan

Name of Public Authority        :      The CPIO - RTI & Passport Officer
                                       Ministry of External Affairs
                                       Passport Office
                                       Maurya Lok Complex
                                       'D' Block
                                       Patna 800 001
Background

1. The RTI request was filed on 30.10.07. The Appellant requested for
information against 4 points. The PIO replied on 26.11.07 stating that
the Appellant’s application for passport is pending for want of police
verification report and not due to lack of any action on the part of the
passport office. He further stated that issue of passport is subject to
receipt of a clear police verification. Not satisfied with the reply, the
Appellant filed an appeal with the State Information Commission,
Patna on 18.12.07. The State Information Commission, Patna
transferred the case to CIC on 31.1.08.

2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner,
scheduled the hearing for December 17, 2008.

3. Mr.B.R. Arya, Passport Office and Mr.M.K.Roy, Assistant represented
the Public Authority.

4. The Appellant Mr.Ashok Kumar was not present during the hearing.
Decision

5. The Respondents submitted that the delay in issue of passport is due
to non-receipt of police clearance.

6. The Commission directs the CPIO to remind the Police to verify details
of the Appellant and to provide a report to the Passport office. The
Passport office to inform the Appellant about the status of his
application within a month of receipt of this Order .

7. The appeal is disposed off.

(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy:

(K.G.Nair)
Designated Officer
Cc:

1. Mr.Ashok Kumar
S/o Shri Sudarshan Prasad
Nai Basti
Mahadeva
Siwan

2. The CPIO
Ministry of External Affairs
Passport Office
Maurya Lok Complex
‘D’ Block
Patna 800 001

3. The Superintendent of Police
Siwan

4. Officer incharge, NIC