As part of the passport application and granting process, a police verification happens. The passport office sends your form to the local police station for verification. And that’s the beginning of yet another opportunity for corruption.
My understanding is that the police is supposed to verify the facts. And see if there are any reasons such as pending criminal cases why the person should not be issued a passport. That’s not what happens. The police visit the applicant’s house and gives a long list of documents with which the applicant is instructed to visit the police station. This list is much longer than the 1 asked for by the passport office. And hence makes no sense. But ours not to question why. Ours is but to do and cry.
A colleague recently had this experience. Once you visit the police station, comes the twist in the tale. The police goes through the originals and photocopies and then asks you to get all the certificates attested by a Gazetted Offficer. The police know fully well that very few people know or have access to a Gazetted Officer. A Gazette Officer is a Senior Officer in the Government Service like a Commissioner of Police or a Secretary in the Government or a District Magistrate.
If you knew a Gazetted Officer, then you can get your passport even before the police verification in a system called “Tatkal”. Since you are here, the police knows very well that you do not have access to such a person. And in any case you are providing the originals, so he can verify. But then the opportunity would not exist. So here’s how it plays out. Most people say, “Sir, I don’t know anybody, can you help me ?” And on payment of Rs. 500, miraculously no documents are needed.
There was yet another colleague, an upright no nonsense army officer, Col. Pandey. His daughter required the police verification and the same story unfolded. Fortunately for all of us, there are some people who do not only practice honesty and integrity but have ensured that their families also believe and practice the same. She tried to find out why this was required, without any luck. Fortunately her brother like her father is in the Army and a Gazetted Officer and was in town. She got all the certificates attested and submitted them. The policeman was not happy. He had failed to extract his pound of flesh. And so coincidentally, the verification stated, “Permanent address not known” or some such.
She was summoned by the Passport Office, which wanted proof of a permanent address. Her pleas that because her father was in the Army, and had been transferred a dozen times, she has lived all over the country. He has a house in Delhi, and now lives in Mumbai. So what exactly do they need ? And what more proof do they want ? No luck. Get a permanent address or you cannot get a passport.
Finally my colleague helped draft a letter that stated all of the above facts, and also highlighted the fact that it seems to be a crime in this country to dedicate your life to the service of your nation, since you will not have permanency and cannot get a passport. This time around the Passport Office reluctantly accepted the letter and have said they will process it. What happens, time will tell.
Not enough of us are standing up and willing to go through the harassment if we do not bribe the authorities. But until such time as enough Col. Pandeys don’t stand up and take a stand we shall continue to attract our place of (dis)honour amongst the “Most Corrupt Nations”.
p.s.: Interestingly Col. Pandey has batch mates and friends who are very senior officials in the External Affairs Ministry and could have got his daughters work done with 1 call. But then, he believes in not only preaching about Doing the right thing, but practicing Doing the right thing. Can you also practice what you preach ?
My understanding is that the police is supposed to verify the facts. And see if there are any reasons such as pending criminal cases why the person should not be issued a passport. That’s not what happens. The police visit the applicant’s house and gives a long list of documents with which the applicant is instructed to visit the police station. This list is much longer than the 1 asked for by the passport office. And hence makes no sense. But ours not to question why. Ours is but to do and cry.
A colleague recently had this experience. Once you visit the police station, comes the twist in the tale. The police goes through the originals and photocopies and then asks you to get all the certificates attested by a Gazetted Offficer. The police know fully well that very few people know or have access to a Gazetted Officer. A Gazette Officer is a Senior Officer in the Government Service like a Commissioner of Police or a Secretary in the Government or a District Magistrate.
If you knew a Gazetted Officer, then you can get your passport even before the police verification in a system called “Tatkal”. Since you are here, the police knows very well that you do not have access to such a person. And in any case you are providing the originals, so he can verify. But then the opportunity would not exist. So here’s how it plays out. Most people say, “Sir, I don’t know anybody, can you help me ?” And on payment of Rs. 500, miraculously no documents are needed.
There was yet another colleague, an upright no nonsense army officer, Col. Pandey. His daughter required the police verification and the same story unfolded. Fortunately for all of us, there are some people who do not only practice honesty and integrity but have ensured that their families also believe and practice the same. She tried to find out why this was required, without any luck. Fortunately her brother like her father is in the Army and a Gazetted Officer and was in town. She got all the certificates attested and submitted them. The policeman was not happy. He had failed to extract his pound of flesh. And so coincidentally, the verification stated, “Permanent address not known” or some such.
She was summoned by the Passport Office, which wanted proof of a permanent address. Her pleas that because her father was in the Army, and had been transferred a dozen times, she has lived all over the country. He has a house in Delhi, and now lives in Mumbai. So what exactly do they need ? And what more proof do they want ? No luck. Get a permanent address or you cannot get a passport.
Finally my colleague helped draft a letter that stated all of the above facts, and also highlighted the fact that it seems to be a crime in this country to dedicate your life to the service of your nation, since you will not have permanency and cannot get a passport. This time around the Passport Office reluctantly accepted the letter and have said they will process it. What happens, time will tell.
Not enough of us are standing up and willing to go through the harassment if we do not bribe the authorities. But until such time as enough Col. Pandeys don’t stand up and take a stand we shall continue to attract our place of (dis)honour amongst the “Most Corrupt Nations”.
p.s.: Interestingly Col. Pandey has batch mates and friends who are very senior officials in the External Affairs Ministry and could have got his daughters work done with 1 call. But then, he believes in not only preaching about Doing the right thing, but practicing Doing the right thing. Can you also practice what you preach ?
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