Not a success story-a victim of Hyderabad passport office

[pbsvas]

Dear Friends,
Good Morning. Sorry for the huge post.
There is a doubt that the power of RTI act is fading.

My son was born in India in the first week of September 2010. I applied for my son’s passport at Guntur passport cell on 21/09/2010. Police verification was completed in the 1st week of Oct 10, demanding bribe of Rs1000
I and my wife both got valid Indian passports.
I was told at Guntur Passport cell that I need to pay huge sum through some agents to these corrupt passport officials at RPO Hyderabad to get my son’s passport with out delay.
20/11/2010: No sign of passport and online status still not showing my reference number was wrong or no information available
21/11/2010: Requested a recommendation letter from local MLA to speed up the process if possible. His secretary called Guntur Passport cell which revealed that Guntur Passport cell kept the application for 6 weeks and finally despatched on 15/11/2010.

23/11/2010: RTI filed at GPO Hyderabad

Details:


Kindly provide me with the following information:

1. On what date has the RPO received my son’s passport application and under your receipt numbers.
2. The chronological sequence of events and actions taken by the officers and staff of the RPO in processing the above application along with all the documentary evidences, in the following format:-

• Name and Designation of the concerned staff or officer of the RPO, Hyderabad
• Date of receipt of the application by concerned staff or officer of RPO, Hyderabad
• Action taken OR procedure followed by the concerned staff or officer with respect to this application.
• Date of disposal of the matter by the concerned staff member or officer of RPO.
• Date on which this application was sent for further procedures to other sections, departments or higher officials of the RPO.

1. The exact status of our above mentioned application at present:-

• where is the applications currently pending, with which staff member or officer are they pending
• Reasons for which they are currently pending and the date since when they are pending with the said staff member or officer of the RPO.

1. Reasons for the application not being disposed off in spite of over 2 months having passed since I submitted our application for passport
2. Is there any benchmark time limit set by the RPO or any other Passport issuing authority for issuing passports, either in its Citizens Charter or any other internal documents? If, yes, a copy of the Citizens Charter or the internal document may kindly be supplied.
3. On an average, during the calendar year 2010, what was the average time taken for issuing a passport from RPO, Hyderabad?
4. Has the RPO or any of his officers or staff taken any corrective measures or made any efforts to reduce delays in issuing of passports.
5. If yes, please provide documentary evidence of such steps taken or any efforts made to prevent delays.
6. Please inform me the name of the police station/dept to whom application was referred for police verification with outward number, date of dispatch and date when reply was received by you. Photocopy of letter addressed to police for verification and proof of mailing be submitted to me and date you received police verification certificate.
7. Reasons for performing police verification on a 1month old boy with both parents holding valid Indian passports.
8. Please let me know when I am likely to receive my son’s passport.

25/11/2010: The status of the passport on the web site changed to new message “It is to regret that due to unavoidable circumstances the despatch of Passport has been delayed and will now be despatched in a week's time".

08/12/2010: Complaint letter sent to chief Passport officer regarding corruption at RPO Hyderabad and purposeful retention of application by Guntur Passport cell.

23/11/2010-22/12/2010:
Despite specific instructions by CPO’s office(7times)to take necessary action by email, No response from Hyderabad Passport Office.(I doubt anyone reading emails at Hyderabad RPO/CPO office emails may be a part of eye wash.
23/12/2010: No passport even after 92days & no information even after 31days
24/12/2010: First appeal submitted by speed post.

Details:
Brief fact of the appeal: I filed the application under RTI act 2005 on Hyderabad Regional Passport Office asking for information about chronological sequence of events and actions taken by the Hyderabad passport office staff in processing of my 3week old son’s application (HYD ZXxxxx) along with all the documentary evidences and exact present status of my above mentioned application and reasons for delay in processing the application. It is 30days since the RTI application and no reply received till date.

Request to the First Appellate Authority:
1. The PIO should be directed to provide all the information sought in the initial application within a week.
2. Since the information has not been provided within the time limit of 30 days, so it should provided free of cost, as per Section 7 (6) of the RTI Act.
3. I should be intimated about each hearing as I would also like to be present in the hearing.

It is very frustrating after going through all this from last 3months.
Have I done anything wrong, I am not sure? Experts on this forum please enlighten me.
First appeal officer is nothing but chief passport officer who failed to act effectively on my complaint. I know this guy is useless and no expectations.
Shall I file a second appeal online now or should I wait for next30days, please advice. I came to know that the wording in the second appeal is important or else they refuse it.
Can someone guide from their experience with second appeals please.
Thanks for your help in advance,
With regards,

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[ambrish.p]

Sponsorer

Dear Member

FAA has 45 (max) days to decide your FA. Please add another 5/10 days for postal delays, if case of no response file SECOND APPEAL.

For help in framing ur 2nd appeal, please see:

How to file 2nd appeal: How to File a Second Appeal under RTI? (For Central Public Authorities) - Guide

2nd Appeal complaint guidelines: http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/blogs/...uidelines.html

Complaints under RTI Act: COMPLAINT UNDER RTI ACT 2005 - Guide

Suggested prayers : http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/blogs/...rs-appeal.html

Also go through the Directory segment of the portal. U will find many second appeals, select one to suit your requirement.

regards

[pbsvas]

Thanks mate for your reply. I will wait for next 45days. But I will keep harrassing them with my emails and letters. I am not going to giveup till I see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is an online application for second appeal. Has anyone used this before? What is your experience with online second appeal application?
with regards,

[ambrish.p]

Dear Member

Please read:

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/18970-...ommission.html
http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/8561-n...website-2.html

regards

[pbsvas]

Success in the end

Thanks mate. I finally got my 10week old son's passport after 94 days(3weeks when I initially applied) along with RTI reply in the same envelope. It is 34days since RTi application. RTI reply just says application processed and passport despatched on 23/12/10. I applied for First appeal already, will see what they say. I will submit for 2nd appeal after 45 days. This is a bit of hard work, written a few letters to external affairs guys and a dozen letters to chief passport officer.
[U]Our guys(Passport officers) don't do thier job right[U]
There is small mistake in the passport. everything is right but in address there is spelling mistake. Instead of Gorantla, it is typed as Gorangla. Does it make any difference/problem?. In my experience, nobody asks for your address on the passport unless you want show it as address proof. I don't want to submit the passport to these corrupt guys. Can you share your thoughts on this. Much appreciated.
with regards,