Question : PASSPORT UNDER TATKAL SCHEME

(a) Whether the Passport Offices across the country have been issued instructions to be more stringent while issuing passport on priority basis under the Tatkal Passport Scheme;

(b) if so, whether a large number of agents of ISI got their passport under the said Scheme and misused them;

(c) if so, the details of facts thereof and the total number of persons to whom passports issued during each of the last three years under the said Scheme;

(d) whether the Government propose to adopt a fool-proof system so that only genuine Indian residents can get passport and review the Tatkal Passport Scheme; and

(e) if so, the details thereof alongwith the mechanism adopted by the Government to ensure the genuineness of the passport seekers?

MINISTER OF STATE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
( a ) The Tatkaal Scheme for issue of out of turn passports is only for eligible applicants who can be issued passports on post police verification basis provided such cases are certified by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
(b)&(c) The Tatkaal Scheme was launched on 1st January, 2000 only and no case of a passport having been issued to any ISI agent under the Tatkaal Scheme has come to the notice of the government. The total number of passports issued under the scheme upto 15th February, 2000 is 7065.
(d)&(e) All passports are being issued only after due police verification which inter alia establishes the Indian nationality of the applicant. Only short validity passports of an urgent nature can be issued on post police verification basis under the Tatkaal Scheme and on the strength of a verification certificate issued by an officer not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.