Continuing from my previous post

https://www.rachnaparmar.com/2010/06/passport-renewal-woes.html

I wrote to the RPO as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. I received a reply from an MEA person asking the Passport office to take adequate action. In the interim, I called up the Police Station once again, and the person asked me to come to the Police Station for the police verfication. I did so on 2nd August along with 2 friends as witnesses. We took almost 2 hours for the paperwork to be finished. At the end of it, the guy smiles and asks me for fees. I said I had paid all fees. But my friend who had accompanied others for their Police verification asked me to pay up. They were the Police after all. I paid Rs. 200, and the person said that my file will be forwarded the next day.
It has been 3 weeks since then and my online status still shows that Police verification report has not been received. It has been 3.5 months since I applied. I wrote to the MEA again, and I have received one more reply. Let’s see when some action will take place. 
Two points here: 
  • What is the point of doing police verification at the Police station? The documents were verified earlier too.  The whole point of Police verification is to physically confirm the residence address, which was not done here. Isn’t it just a means of propagating corruption?
  • Is anyone monitoring the status of applications? Why are people not pulled up when passports are not issued for months on end for no reason? The official time frame is 35 days!
    Indian systems are frustrating, and only aim towards bribery and corruption.

    9 Thoughts on “Passport Renewal Woes continue……

    1. Indeed.. I recently got my son’s passport and that too after paying twice to the police… so I would say we are the ones propagating it but the reason is simple, if we don’t do it, the matter is stuck.. may be we have to have more courage to stop paying them and take the matters ahead….

    2. 🙂 Few days back i told you that mine was got done in a week time
      but then after it got stuck but after marking the mail to Public Griveance cell, the things are moving so decided to wait for 10 more days before filing RTI and bang them!!!

    3. @Jaanvi Really? Because for minors the procedure is really simple. There is no PV involved. We had got Gautam’s passport within 3 weeks of applying. And, you are right! Trust me, I am a little mad myself. I never bribe my way around.

      @Bhupesh Dekha! Till you get the passport in your hands, you can never say in India. Oh yes, Public Grievance cell, I had also written to the Public Grievance Officer belonging to the MEA twice now. I think, I will wait another week, and then file for RTI. That is my last recourse too. So frustrating to spend time doing fruitless activities :(. Wish you all the best too for your passport.

    4. omg…what a shame with our system yar..

    5. Yes Ramesh. Who would expect this in a country like India?

    6. May be you should read my my last post”catch me if you can”
      The only way out is bribe and corruption

    7. @BKChowla Yes, I remember reading that post of yours.

    8. Hi Rachna, regret read of your passport problems. Wow! That bad, huh?
      I guess someone up there must be sleeping.
      Or someone involved needs some marmalade on his bread, ha ha.

      Can imagine your frustrations.
      Holy Smoke, what happens if there’s an emergency, you need it yesterday, so to speak?

      Hey, love your header scene.
      You be cool….. Lee.

    9. Pingback: RTI – Right to Information — An extraordinary tool! | Rachna Says

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