RIGHT TO INFORMATION-RPO-CHENNAI

RIGHT TO INFORMATION-PO-SRINAGAR

Article 4 (1) (b) (i) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Particulars of organization, functions and duties of the Passport Office, SRINAGAR

Historical Background

The Regional Passport Office Srinagar was created in the year 1979. The issue of passport is in central list of the Constitution of India. Hence the authority to issue passports to the Indian citizens lies with the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs. MEA has empowered among other PIAs the Passport Officer Srinagar as one such “Passport Issuing Authority” with it’s office at Srinagar. In 1990 this Passport office was temporarily shifted to New Delhi due to difficult security scenario prevailing in the valley at that time and functioned there from 1990 to 1994 as the “J&K cell” in Main passport office New Delhi As the law and order situation improved in J&K, this office was shifted back to Srinagar and since then it is functioning at Srinagar. Presently it operates from Hotel Lake Breeze, Boulevard Srinagar. Initially passport officer Srinagar was catering to the needs of residents of entire state of Jammu and Kashmir. However in year 1994 another passport office was sanctioned for Jammu Region due to increase of work load at J&K cell New Delhi and due to bifurcation, the jurisdiction of passport office Srinagar is now limited to all districts of Kashmir and Ladakh regions. Our new building is likely to come up at our new passport office site RajBagh Srinagar on the land taken on lease by MEA from J&K Govt at Rajbagh Srinagar a few years before. Within 2 years Passport Office Srinagar will have its own state of art building at RajBagh Srinagar.

Organization

This office has a total of 22 officers and staff members.

The hierarchy at the Passport Office, Srinagar includes 3 stages:

1. Superintendent

2. Assistant Passport Officer

3. Passport Officer

Functions and Duties

This office deals with the issuance of passport/travel document to the citizens of India. Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Leh, Kargil districts are under the jurisdiction of Passport Office Srinagar.

In all Revenue districts except Srinagar there are “District Passport Application Collection Centers” functional. These are attached to the verification section of concerned District superintendent of police offices. These are commonly known as DPCs. The job of DPC is to collect the passport application in respective District HQRS so that applicants may not have to travel to Srinagar to deposit their passport application form. Each DPC has been given a Code and Serial No to collect new passport application forms from their respective districts, and assign unique file nos to these applications. However the DPCs are not authorized to collect fee in cash. They are only authorized to

collect fee in the form of bank drafts. Only Passport Office Srinagar counter clerks are authorized to collect fee either in cash or DD against computer printed receipt. Besides the issuance of passports this office also deals with different services on passport like addition of spouse name, ECNR status, additional booklet, etc. Grant of Police Clearance Certificate is a distinct service on passport and is endorsed on passport as well as a separate PCC is issued to the applicant along with the passport. For each Miscellaneous service endorsed on the existing passport fee is Rs.300 (Three hundred only). In addition to the passport related work, this office also issues permits to the residents living in our jurisdiction for visit to Muzaffarabad i.e. across line of Actual Control and holds regular meeting with Pak Designated Authority at Kaman Post at fortnightly intervals for exchange of passengers from other side. In this meeting

the documents of desirous passengers of both sides are exchanged. The Passport Officer is also ‘Designated Authority’ from our side who is authorized to hold meeting with the Designated Authority across on “LOC Aman Sethu Bridge” at Kaman. Verification of passports: On submission of passport application form, 2 personal particular (PP) forms are detached from passport application by counter clerk and at the end of the day these are dispatched to ADGP CID. These are received by next day in ADGP CID Hqrs. MEA makes a payment of Rs 100 (one hundred only) to the police department for each verification done by police. The payment is made at half yearly basis through passport officer Srinagar to Home Dep’t of J&K Police

Article 4 (1) (b) (ii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Powers and duties of the employees of the Passport Office, Srinagar

Passport Officers have been designated as Heads of Offices. For the smooth running of the offices, certain financial powers has been delegated to them. The financial powers of employees of Passport Office has been detailed in delegation of Financial Power Rule, 1978 and subsequent orders issued in reference to the delegation of Financial Power Rules. These powers may be seen at Annexure of delegation of financial rules and Passport Rules. Other powers of the officials of Passport Office are derived from the Passport Act. This Act and rules is already on the MEA's website www.mea.gov.in. The duties of officers and employees of this office flow from the Passport Act and Passport Rules website www.mea.gov.in.

Procedures followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and authority:

Article 4 (1) (b) (iii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

The Passport Office, Srinagar follows the procedure indicated in Passport Manual 2001 for decision making in issuance of passports. The officers from the Superintendent to Passport Officer level have been designated as Passport Issuing Authority(PIA) for issuance of passport and take decisions/actions with the help of Assistant, UDC, LDC posted in the section in accordance with Passport Act, Passport Rules and Passport Manual .

WORK FLOW CHART PASSPORT OFFICE,SRINAGAR

Sale of forms

▼

Scrutiny at Counter

Scrutiny of Postal Application

Travel Agent’s

Application

District Passport Cell Application

Speed Post Centers

↓

Cash Counter

↓

PV\CID issue.

↓

Detail Entry/Verification and modification of data

↓

Scanning of photograph and signature

↓

Index

↓

Dealing Section for PV\CID Link & Processing of Files

↓

Passport Issuing Authorities For Order

▼

Dealing Section for Movement of objection Cases

Passport No. Allotment in Clear Cases

↓

Passport Printing Section

↓

Passport Lamination Section

↓

For Signature to PIAS

▼

Delivery at Counter

Despatch Section

↓

Record Section

In other administrative matters, Dealing Assistant submits the files to the Officer-in-charge of concerned section who in turn submits to Passport Officer. If necessary, matter is referred to the CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs for final approval. The office also follows the guidelines issued by other Departments, particularly the Cabinet Secretariat http://www.mpa.nic.in, the Ministry of Parliamentary affairs http://www.mpa.nic.in and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions http://persmin.nic.in. and Ministry of HomeAffairs(Rajbhasha). .

Norms set by the Ministry for the discharge of its functions

Article 4 (1) (b) (iv) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

The Passport Office, Srinagar discharge of its functions as per the norms laid down by the CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. It is our endeavor that all files are disposed of within the stipulated time frame for issuance of passport subject to completion of documentations and usual checks. The norms are available at http://www.passport.gov.in.

Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by or under the control of the Passport Office, Srinagar used by its employees for discharging its functions

Article 4 (1) (b) (v) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 - Passport Act & Passport Rules

These are already available on the MEA’s website http://www.mea.gov.in In addition, the Passport Office also utilizes the relevant rules, regulations and orders of the Government of India, such as Civil Service Conduct Rules, Central Civil Service Leave Travel Concession Rules, Central Service Leave Rules, Civil Service Pension Rules, Provident Fund Rules, General Financial Rules, Fundamental and Supplementary Rules, etc. These rules are already in the public domain as printed priced publications.

Statement of the categories of documents that are held by the Ministry or under its control.

Article 4(1) (b) (vi) of the right to Information Act , 2005.

The following documents are held by this office:-

(i) Passport Application Forms

(ii) India International Ordinary Passport Booklets (including Jumbo ppts)

iii) Official Passports

iv) Diplomatic Passports

v) Certificate of identity

Arrangement for consultation with or representation by the members of the public in relation to formulation of policies or implementation thereof:

Article 4 (1) (b) (vii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

The Passport Office, Srinagar does not deal directly with the members of the public in relation to formation of polices or implementation thereof. The matter is being looked after at the level of MEA

Statement of boards, councils, committees and other bodies

Article 4 (1) (b) (viii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Nil

Directory of officers and employees and monthly remuneration

Article 4 (1) (b) (ix) & (x) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

List of officers:

Sh G.A.Dar Regional Passport Officer.

Sh G.R.Baba Assistant.

Smt Shabina Firdous Assistant.

Ranjeet Kumar LDC

Sanjeev Kumar LDC

Shabila Jan Office Assistant

Asif Shah Office Assistant

Afaq Wani Office Assistant

Gur Purab Office Assistant

Mushtaq Sheikh Office Assistant

Fayaz Ahmed Rather Office Assistant

Mushtaq Mir Office Assistant

Shakeel Ahmed Office Assistant

Gulzar Ahmed Zaz Office Assistant

Mohammad Ayoub Office Assistant

Shabina Mukhtar Office Assistant

Sabia Jan Office Assistant

Nighat Chashoo Office Assistant

Ifat Manzoor Office Assistant

Ali Mohammed Daftry

Ghulam Hassan Daftry

Bashir Ahmed Peon Peon

Details of monthly remuneration of officers and staff of Passport Office, Srinagar

Sl.No.	Cadre/Post	Pay scale	Grade Pay
1	Deputy Passport Officer	PB-3 Rs.15,600-39,100	6,600
2	Asst. Passport Officer	PB-3 Rs. 15,600-39,100	5,400
3.	Superintendent	PB-2 Rs. 9,300-34,800	4,600
4	Stenographer	PB-2 Rs.9300-34800	4,200
5	Assistant	PB-2 Rs.9,300-34,800	4,200
6.	UDC	PB-1 Rs. 5,200-20,200	2,400
7	LDC	PB-1 Rs.5,200-20,200	1,900
8	Office Assistants	PB-1 Rs. 5,200-20,200	1,800
	Total

Budget allocated to each agency, indicating particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made

Article 4 (1) (b) (xi) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Abstract of budget estimates 2010-2011 & expenditure

Head	Approved BE 2010-11	Actual Expenditure Updated till 30/06/2010
Salaries
Wages
OTA
Medical
DTE/TA
O.E.
IT
RRT
Minor Works
Total

Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries

Article 4 (1) (b) (xii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

The Passport Office, Srinagar does not have any subsidy programmes

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by the Passport Office, Srinagar

Article 4 (1) (b) (xiii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

List of travel agents recognized for submission of filled passport application forms to the passport office Srinagar.

Travel agent Name & Address

1. Pirpanchal Travels

Kirmani Manzil, Advocate House

Saderbal, Srinagar Kashmir, 190001.

Recognized by ME

Details in respect of the information , available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form

Article 4 (1) (b) (xiv) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

All information regarding issuance of passports and status thereof have been uploaded on website http://www.passport.gov.in

Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information

Article 4 (1) (b) (xv) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Citizens can obtain information through the web-site of the office at http://passport.gov.in They could also consult the mea.gov.in and the Ministry of External Affairs, online, at http://www.mealib.nic.in Apart form this citizens are provided passport issuance information through Enquiry Counters and also by telephone. Citizens can also visit the officers during office hours on all working days between 10.30 am to 1.00 pm. Some of the instructions are also displayed on the notice boards of the Passport Office.

The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers

Article 4 (1) (b) (xvi) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Appellate Authority
Sh. Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi,
Joint Secretary (PSP) & Chief Passport Officer,
Room No. 8, Patiala House,
Ministry of External Affairs, Tilak Marg,
New Delhi -110001
Fax no +91-11-23782821
E-mail : jscpo@mea.gov.in

Central Public Information Officer

Passport Office Srinagar

Boulevard, Srinagar

J&K 190001.

Tel : 0194-2451193, 2451203,

2451401

Fax : 0194-2451224

E-mail: rpo.srinagar@mea.gov.in

Such other information as may be prescribed; and thereafter update these publications every year

Article 4 (1) (b) (xvii) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

All such information as may be prescribed are updated every year on website.