Status of passport application - CIC: Information held by the public authority had been duly disseminated to the Complainant, no question of deliberate or wilful denial of information arises in this case; The germane issue case has also been resolved<scri
29 May, 2023Information sought and background of the case:
The Complainant filed an RTI application dated 15.12.2021seeking information on the following point:-
I have applied for passport on basis of rent agreement and Gas connection. My file no. is CH4065862345021. I applied for passport from passport office Chandigarh. they forwarded my file on basis of gas connection. then Mr aman camrle to my house for verification and asked for witness and adhar card I gave him both. he objected my verification on basis of address on adhar card which is of ludhiana. My witness took full responsibility of me indeed during signed document taken during police verification. After all this my status of my passport is that police report is not clear and is review by rpo. Please look into this matter and solve my problem as soon as possible.
The CPIO vide online reply dated 04.01.2022 communicated as under:-
In reply to the information sought by you, it is inform you that your file is on hold due to adverse police received from police authority. Kindly visit RPO, Chandigarh and meet RPO, Official in room no. 205.
Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Complainant filed a first appeal dated 04.01.2022.
The FAA vide online order dated 10.03.2022 observed as under:-
I have examined the RTI application and the CPIO’s reply. In reply to your appeal, it is inform you that matter is related to police authority. Kindly contact to concerned S.P. office.
Aggrieved and dissatisfied, Complainant approached the Commission with the instant Complaint.
Facts emerging in Course of Hearing:
Hearing was scheduled through virtual means after giving prior notice to both the parties. Both parties are present for hearing held through video conference and the Respondent stated that passport was issued to the Complainant after the due process was followed.
Decision
Considering the fact that information held by the public authority had been duly disseminated to the Complainant, no question of deliberate or wilful denial of information arises in this case. Moreover, the germane issue which led to the filing of this case has also been resolved now, with issuance of the passport to the Applicant.
In the given circumstances, the Commission is of the opinion that the case does not merit action under Section 18 of the RTI Act, since there is no deliberate or malafide denial or concealment of information by the Respondent. Hence the complaint is disposed off as such.
Y. K. Sinha
Chief Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Pankush Ghand v. Ministry of External Affairs, CIC/MOEAF/C/2022/615670; 16.03.2023