HC notice to police over passport on wrong address

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the police and the regional passport office on a plea seeking action against a passport officer who allegedly got a passport for himself and family on a non-existing residential address.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher sought a response from the regional passport office, deputy commissioner of police, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the wife of the officer who is alleged to be involved in the illegal act.

The plea, filed by an NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation, alleged that the assistant passport officer got his and his family's passports issued from a non-existing address in Chhattarpur extension which is not approved by any landowning agency.

The plea said the NGO had approached Delhi Police and the passport office but no action was taken against the officer concerned.

The plea said the officer has indulged in illegal practice of issuance of passports to people who are not residing in confirmed residential areas across Delhi.

It also alleged that "in connivance of some of his agents, the officer issued the passports on the bogus and false verification reports of the Special Branch of Delhi Police in return of consideration in cash and kind".