Field verification by cops not necessary for passports: SP Bhusarapu Satya Yesubabu

Ongole: The tension and waiting for the field verification by the special branch police to issue passport and paying them Rs 1,000-2,000 as service tip, is a past now.

The Ministry of External Affairs in Government of India and the Passport and Visa division has directed the police department to approve the applications online, if they didn’t find any civil and criminal cases pending against the applicant.

The police officials, complying with the directions, announced the candidates to inform the local special branch SI or CI if any constable comes to their home in the name of field verification and demands bribes.

Until recently, before September 1, 2018, the applications received at the passport department, will be forwarded to police department for verification.

The special branch constable visits the applicants at the residence, crosschecks the documents and takes the fingerprints again though the Passport Seva Kendra did them already. They charge a service tip from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 based on the need and emergency of the applicant for the passport.

As part of the continuous reforms in Passport Seva, the Ministry of External Affairs issued guidelines to the police department in all states to avoid duplication of work and to avoid the applicant force waiting at home for the field verification, keeping the work aside. 

Superintendent of Police Bhusarapu Satya Yesubabu said there is no need of field verification for the passport now. He said the use of technology at district crime records bureau and crime and criminal tracking network system available in all police stations helps the department to immediately verify if any civil or criminal cases are pending against the applicants.

He added the online police verification would be done in 1 to 3 days after the police receives the passport application and there is no need for the applicant to wait for special branch constable to visit their home. He asked the candidates to inform the local special branch office or special branch SI, CI or DSP, if any police personnel visit them in the name of verification.