Surat: When applying for a passport, you may no longer need to physically visit a police station for verification. An RTI activist in Surat, Sanjay Ezhava, obtained government documents shedding light on the police’s role in the passport verification process.

Ezhava filed an RTI request with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, seeking details about police verification for passports.

In response to Ezhava’s request, the reply stated that police verification is primarily intended to verify an applicant’s nationality (citizenship) and any criminal cases, rather than their identity, address, or documents. The response also clarified that the police need not meet the applicant in person or obtain their signature unless deemed necessary. Instead, they are required to visit the applicant’s residence for the verification process.

Ezhava shared this information through social media to raise awareness and simplify the passport application process. Many individuals are unaware of these rules and often face harassment from the police or middlemen who demand money or documents. He encouraged passport applicants to be informed about their rights and not fall victim to such practices.

The Passport Office also confirmed that police verification is conducted online through a portal, and applicants can track the status of their verification on the website. The Passport Office emphasized that police verification is a vital step in ensuring the security and integrity of the passport system and called for the cooperation of both applicants and the police in this regard.

According to a clarification issued by the Regional Passport Office, Ahmedabad, to all the Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in Gujarat, dated 20.11.2018, the following aspects are to be verified by the police in all passport verification applications:

1. Verification of only the applicant’s nationality (citizenship) and criminal case is required.

2. As the applicant’s identity has been verified by the Passport Office/Post Office Passport Service Centre, there is no need for the police to perform this task.

3. Address verification of the applicant is not necessary.

4. Meeting the applicant in person or obtaining the applicant’s signature is not mandated for the police, except when deemed essential.

5. Verification of documentary evidence is conducted by the Passport Office or Post Office Passport Office, so there is no requirement for the police to verify any documents unless instructed by the Passport Office.

6. Inquiries regarding an applicant’s involvement in criminal proceedings or citizenship under Section 6(2) of the Passport Act shall be solely conducted by the police when necessary.