Interfaith couple issue: Govt says due procedure followed in issuance of passport

The government today told the Lok Sabha that passports were issued to an interfaith couple in Lucknow after careful examination of their documents and due procedure was followed.

Asked whether the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had suspended a passport officer in Lucknow for hurting the religious sentiments of an applicant, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh answered, "No".

Tanvi Seth had accused Lucknow passport officer Vikas Mishra of harassing her and her husband Anas Siddiqui. She had made a slew of allegations against Mishra, who was subsequently transferred to Gorakhpur.

Asked if the ministry had directed the regional passport office in Lucknow to issue the passport to the applicants without verification of their credentials, Singh said, "The passport was issued at Passport Seva Kendra, Lucknow, after careful examination of the documents submitted and following due procedure as per Passport Act, 1967."