Passport official transferred for allegedly humiliating Hindu-Muslim couple

A Passport Seva Kendra official in Lucknow was transferred today after he allegedly humiliated an inter-faith couple, asking the husband to convert to Hinduism and pulling up the wife for marrying a Muslim, when they went to the office with their passport applications.

Seeking action, Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth, who have been married for 12 years, wrote about their ordeal on Twitter and tagged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday.

A day later, the Regional Passport Office in Lucknow transferred Vikas Mishra, the official accused of humiliating the couple.

Regional Passport Officer (RPO) Piyush Verma said a show cause notice has been issued to the officer and he has been transferred with immediate effect.

Verma said the passports were issued to the couple today after he met them in his office here.

"We have also sent the report to the Ministry of External Affairs for further action," Verma told reporters in Lucknow, assuring necessary action against the official.

The RPO expressed regret over the incident and gave an assurance that it would not be repeated.

Responding to complaints from Siddiqui and Seth, secretary, consular, passport and visa (CPV) division, D M Mulay said he had asked for a report from the RPO and would take appropriate action.

Seth thanked Swaraj, the RPO Lucknow and CPV, for "timely action" in a series of tweets this morning.

"Since the time we walked in to the RPO office this morning we were treated very well by Mr. Piyush Verma and all the officials. They apologised for the misconduct of the official yesterday. They looked at our documents and issued passports to us in no time," she tweeted.

The couple had yesterday detailed their harrowing experience on Twitter.

Recounting yesterday's incident, Siddiqui told reporters in Lucknow that his was a case of re-issuance while his wife was seeking a new passport.

"The official's behaviour at the counter was inappropriate...I was called by him and asked if my wife's name is Tanvi Seth...he asked me to change my religion, name, take 'pheras' and only then things will be done."