The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tatkal passport: court for strict adherence to rules

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Wednesday, Jan 05, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tatkal passport: court for strict adherence to rules

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday expressed the hope and trust that the External Affairs Ministry and the Chief Passport Officer would strictly comply with all the conditions and procedures before issuing passports under the Tatkal scheme.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam passed the order while disposing of a petition by E.Veera Rajendran.

The petitioner had sought to declare the Tatkal rules viz., the Passport Rules 1999 gazette notification dated November 29, 1999 and the subsequent amendment of the rules in December 2006 as null and void.

The petitioner pointed out various serious irregularities being committed by the passport issuing authorities while issuing out-of-turn (Tatkal) passports.

In the counter, the authorities stated that all strict measures had been taken for issuing Tatkal passports after due verification. In addition, additional measures would be implemented with immediate effect with regard to verification of documents.

The Bench said the petitioner's prayer was wholly misconceived. It went without saying that the basic object of the Tatkal scheme was to provide a transparent and time-bound system by which those who were required to travel abroad at short notice and could not wait for police verification to obtain passports under the scheme. Hence, there was no question of issuing any direction for non-issuing Tatkal passports.

However, the Bench reiterated that the passports under the scheme should be issued after fully complying with the requirements of law and also the conditions as enumerated in the authorities' counter affidavit.

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