Concerned over fake passports issued on the basis of "false verification reports", the Delhi High Court today asked the police whether any action has been taken to check the menace.
"Has any police official, on whose false verification report, passport were issued, been prosecuted so far," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Anu Malhotra sought to know from Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Kumar Patnaik.
On being informed by way of a PIL that false reports are being given for passport issuance by the Special Branch of Delhi Police, the bench said it was a "very serious matter and needs consideration".
"The Delhi Police Commissioner shall place a report before us before May 24, whether any police officials were tried for such offence.
"Also tell us, whether you (Delhi police) have sent any of your official to jail in this regard. Have any of your officers been convicted," the bench asked the counsel for the Delhi Police.
The court's order came during the hearing of a PIL filed by NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation through general secretary Harkrishan Das Nijhawan, who claimed that Indian passports were issued to foreigners who were not residing at the given addresses and, in some cases, addresses which did not exist.
While seeking action against the police officials, the plea alleged "mass-scale illegal passports are issued to foreigners as well as Indian citizens on the recommendation of false police verification reports issued by the Special Branch of Delhi Police and police departments of states as well as union territories across India."
This can endanger the security of the citizens as false passport holders could also seek refuge or political asylum on the grounds of their original nationality, it said.
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