Necessary to revisit passport verification process: HC

The Delhi High Court today said it was "necessary" for the Centre to "revisit" its existing mechanism for verifying credentials prior to issuing a passport, noting that even the government has admitted to "lacunae in the system" which could lead to issuance of passports based on false or forged documents.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said since passport was a very important document and lapses in following statutory requirements for issuing it may result in serious consequences, a "stringent approach should be adopted while dealing with the erring officials".
It also said that till the government revisits the procedure, there should be "strict compliance" of the existing system for verification of the credentials of the applicants.

"As is evident from the counter affidavits filed on behalf of the respondents (Centre, Delhi government, police and other authorities) supported by the material placed on record, sufficient statutory measures are in place to check issuance of passports on the basis of fake/forged documents.
"However, as admitted by the respondents themselves, there are still certain lacunae in the system which may result in issuance of passports to Indian citizens/foreigners on the basis of false/forged documents. It is, therefore, necessary for the respondent No.1 (Centre) to revisit the existing mechanism for verification of credentials of the applicants before issuing the passports and to take steps for exploring more effective procedure," it said.

The direction came while disposing of a PIL by an NGO which alleged that Indian passports have been issued to foreign nationals at non-existent addresses here on the basis of false police verification reports.
The NGO, Paardarshita, had sought directions to National Investigating Agency (NIA) and CBI to probe the matter.
The court in its verdict declined to grant the plea of probe by NIA or CBI, saying it "did not consider it necessary" in the circumstances of this case.