Question : ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)

a) The number of passports issued by Passport Offices in Bhopal(Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur(Rajasthan) and Patna(Bihar) during 1999, 2000 and 2001 (upto September, 2001) is indicated below:

Passport Office	1999	2000	2001(upto September)
Bhopal	38808	38331	32796
Jaipur	73292	66612	59904
Patna	58383	43448	41970

b) Government endeavours to issue passports in 35 days provided the application is complete in all respects and a clear police verification report is received. However, due to non-receipt of a clear police verification report and due to incomplete information submitted by the applicants, the average time being taken by Passport Offices varies. The time being taken by the three Passport Offices in issuing passport after the receipt of clear police report is indicated below:

i) Bhopal	7 days
ii) Jaipur	20 days
iii) Patna	2-3 days

c) & d) The number of applications pending for issue of passport in the three offices for more than six month is as indicated below:

i) Bhopal	1879
ii) Jaipur	5529
iii) Patna	4300

Most of these applications are pending either for want of clear police verification reports or for want of compliance by the applicants in case of certain additional requirements. Instructions have been issued to these passport offices to remind the police authorities to send the reports without delay and to remind the applicants to complete the requirements.