You are regional passport officer of the Regional Passport office, Chandigarh. Ahmad Ansari of 13/7 Mansoor Shopping Plaza has sought a reply under the RTI Act on the status of the application for a passport. Write a suitable reply giving the status of the application and citing the reason for delay. Sign the application as M. Arunachalam.
Answers
Answer:
Central Information Commission
CIC/OK/A/2008/987/AD
Dated December 22, 2008
Name of the Appellant : Mr.Ansari Masud A.K
192-Kutbi Manzil, Flat No.10
CST Road, Kurla (W)
Mumbai 400 070
Name of Public Authority : The CPIO
Ministry of External Affairs
Regional Passport Office
Worli
Mumbai 400 025
Background
1. The RTI request was filed on 14.3.07. The Appellant requested for information about the passport and other enclosures of passport of one mr. Janu Pawar besides action taken on his complaint dated 28.4.08 . The CPIO replied on 13.5.08 denying the information under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. Dissatisfied with the reply, the Appellant filed his first appeal on 5.6.08. The Appellate Authority replied on 12.6.08 dismissing the appeal. The Appellant filed his second appeal before the CIC on 24.7.08.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing on December 22, 2008
3. Mr.B.S.Rokade, Asst. Passport Officer and RPIO represented the Public Authority.
4. The Appellant Mr.Ansari Masud A.K. was represented by Mr Mohd. Arif Khan during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Appellant's representative submitted that he is not well versed with the details of the case and was unable to respond to queries from the Commission.
6. The Commission holds that details of a passport are readily made available by any individual in a number of instances, example to travel agents, at airline counters, and whenever proof of residence for telephone connections etc. is required. For this reason, disclosure of details of a passport cannot be considered as causing unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual and, therefore, is not exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
7. After going through the arguments provided by the Appellant in his appeal and convinced that disclosure of details of the passport is in public interest, the Commission directs the PIO to provide the details of passport of Mr. Janu Pawar to the Appellant as requested in his RTI application within 15 days of receipt of this Order.
8. The appeal is disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(K.G.Nair) Designated Officer
1. Mr.Ansari Masud A.K 192-Kutbi Manzil, Flat No.10 CST Road, Kurla (W) Mumbai 400 070
2. The CPIO Ministry of External Affairs Regional Passport Office Worli Mumbai 400 025
3. Officer incharge, NIC
4. Press E Group, CIC