ANUPAM TRIPATHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The brief facts borne out from the record and in pursuance of the arguments advanced by the parties counsel are that the petitioner in the year 2008, applied for passport. The passport was dispatched to the petitioner through the Postal Department but it was not delivered. The passport was also not received back by the Regional Passport Office, Lucknow. The Postal Department informed the Regional Passport Office that on account of missing of record, it is not possible to inform the actual fact with regard to missing of passport.

(2.) It appears that in spite of information received from the petitioner, the Regional Passport Office, Lucknow has not informed the petitioner with regard to subsequent steps which the petitioner ought to take on account of missing of passport. In consequence thereof, since 2008, the petitioner has been running from pillar to post for issuance/delivery of passport.

(3.) In pursuance of order passed by this Court, Sri R. N. Roy, Regional Passport Officer is present. He submits that since the passport is missing, the petitioner has to move fresh application keeping in view the fact that the entire system has been computerized. The fact remains that the petitioner was not informed with regard to the step which he ought to have taken on account of missing of passport. He further submits that he has not received any communication from the Postal Department but the fact remains that the petitioner has communicated to the Regional Passport Office that he has not received the passport. The Regional Passport Officer has also not verified the fact and lodged the F.I.R. to the Police with regard to missing of passport. It may not be ruled out that passport sent by the Regional Passport Office, may have been utilized by some anti-social element with ulterior motive. Missing of passport sent by the Regional Passport Office, is a serious event and appropriate information should have been communicated to the police so that appropriate investigation would have been done to check the use of missing passport by anti-social element.