In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/C/2010/001324
Date of Hearing : June 22, 2011
Date of Decision: June 22, 2011
Parties:
Applicant
Mr. Vinod Kumar Dubey,
S/o Shri. Vishvanath Dubey,
Gram Gaurjitpur, PostNewas,
Distt Gorakhpur, UP
The Applicant was present at the hearing.
Respondent
Ministry of External Affairs
Regional Passport Office
Behind RBI, Vipin Khand,
Gomti Nagar,
Lucknow 226010
Represented by: Mr. Roy Chaudhari, Advocate for RPO, Lucknow
Information Commissioner : Mrs. Annapurna Dixit
___________________________________________________________________
In the Central Information Commission
at
New Delhi
File No: CIC/AD/C/2010/001324
ORDER
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI application dt.02062010 with the PIO, Regional Passport Office,
Lucknow, stating that he had submitted an application for Passport on 0412010 and that till date no
Passport has been issued. He wanted to know the reasons as to why the Passport has not been
issued to him. The Commission issued a notice on 04032011, in response to the Petition received
from the Appellant dt.28072010, directing the PIO to provide the information and also to show cause
by 15042011.as to why penalty should not be imposed upon him for not replying to the RTI
Application The Commission received a letter dt. Nil from the Passport Office stating that in
compliance with the Commission’s Order, dt. 04032011, the Appellant has been requested vide
letter dt.04042011, to submit a fresh affidavit regarding old Passport file for disposal of case file. He
also stated that the Passport application file is only pending due to want of fresh affidavit regarding
old Passport application file which is not yet furnished by the Appellant.
2. In response to a complaint filed by the Appellant after receiving the PIO’s relpy of 4.4.11, the
Commission scheduled a hearing on 20–62011 to hear the matter and invited both parties to be
present at the hearing which was subsequently postponed to 2262011.
Decision
3. During the hearing, the Respondent submitted that the Complainant was asked to submit a fresh
affidavit since he had not filled in Column number 11 in the passport application form because of
which it was not clear whether he(the Complainant) had applied for a passport earlier or not. The
Complainant was therefore asked to submit an affidavit confirming the fact that he had not applied for
a passport earlier. The Appellant however maintained his position that he had never applied for a
Passport earlier and that based on the suggestion of the PIO, he had filed a fresh affidavit with the
Regional Passport Office on 12052011 by speed post. At this stage, the Respondent stated that it
normally takes at least 2 months for the linking of the affidavit with the file, after which the Passport is
issued.
4. After hearing both sides and having noted that the Appellant has already submitted the affidavit as
requested, the Commission strongly recommends that if the affidavit is acceptable , the Passport be
issued by 15082011.
5. The appeal is accordingly disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy
(G.Subramanian)
Deputy Registrar
Cc:
1. Mr. Vinod Kumar Dubey,
S/o Shri. Vishvanath Dubey,
Gram Gaurjitpur, PostNewas,
Distt Gorakhpur, UP
2. The Public Information Officer
Ministry of External Affairs
Regional Passport Office
Behind RBI, Vipin Khand, Gomti Nagar,
Lucknow 226010
3. Officer in charge, NIC