Acceptance of Digital Proof in Passport Office
Signed 2/3000
Online Signatures: 2
To
Sushma Swaraj
I went to passport office in Ahmedabad for renewal of my son's passport in May 2018. He had given his SSC (CBSE) exams in March 2018 & his results were not out then. To get ECNR in his passport, on our 1st visit, his SSC original mark sheet was asked for, which we were not having since non-declaration of his result by CBSE board. On 29th May, 2018, his results were declared. So, we went in 1st week of June, 2018 along with his mark sheet printed online from CBSE website & digitally signed by competent authority. To be on safe side, I had taken his school principal's rubber stamp and signature.
Passport Officer in Ahmedabad refused to accept it as a valid proof because of non-receipt of proper instructions to them from our Ministry of External Affairs to accept digitally signed mark sheet as a valid proof. I was surprised, rather shocked to get such a blunt reply. His original mark sheet was given to us by school authority after they received from CBSE board after 2 months (i.e., in July 2018). I was on my foreign posting then. So, I was able to go again with my son to passport office Ahmedabad in August, 2018 & ultimately was able to produce original mark sheet as per their requirement. As a result of all these, his new passport was despatched by them after 3 and half months.
On one hand, our Indian Govt bangs trumpets of Digital India & on the other hand, their own offices refuse digital documents. How will our new generation believe such a dual policy & trust our own Govt?
So, it is highly advisable for our Ministry of External Affairs to issue suitable instructions to passport offices all over India to accept digitally printed & signed documents so that our new generation can trust our typically run Govt system.
Passport Officer in Ahmedabad refused to accept it as a valid proof because of non-receipt of proper instructions to them from our Ministry of External Affairs to accept digitally signed mark sheet as a valid proof. I was surprised, rather shocked to get such a blunt reply. His original mark sheet was given to us by school authority after they received from CBSE board after 2 months (i.e., in July 2018). I was on my foreign posting then. So, I was able to go again with my son to passport office Ahmedabad in August, 2018 & ultimately was able to produce original mark sheet as per their requirement. As a result of all these, his new passport was despatched by them after 3 and half months.
On one hand, our Indian Govt bangs trumpets of Digital India & on the other hand, their own offices refuse digital documents. How will our new generation believe such a dual policy & trust our own Govt?
So, it is highly advisable for our Ministry of External Affairs to issue suitable instructions to passport offices all over India to accept digitally printed & signed documents so that our new generation can trust our typically run Govt system.
Transforming IndiaOct 12