Passport stuck in police verification or print? RTI gets you a date

1. Date my passport file (no. [..]) reached PV stage.
2. Officer-in-charge of police verification.
3. PV report status — submitted? Adverse?
4. Reason for delay beyond 21-day SLA.
5. Projected printing/dispatch date.

To: The Public Information Officer, Regional Passport Office / SP-CID
Subject: Application under §6 RTI Act 2005 — Passport application status under file no [..]

I applied for a passport on [date], file number [..]. Despite the 21-day police-verification SLA, my passport is not despatched. Please furnish:
1. Date file reached PV stage.
2. Officer-in-charge of PV (designation, contact).
3. Status of PV report — submitted/pending/adverse.
4. Reason for delay beyond 21 days.
5. Projected printing and despatch date.

Fee: Rs.10 by IPO/cash.

• Filing only to RPO — also file to SP-CID; PV is the usual bottleneck.
• Skipping the §7(1) 48-hour urgency clause when travel is imminent.
• Not attaching a copy of confirmed ticket/visa for urgency claim.
• Asking for “reason for rejection” without invoking §4(1)(d).
• Not escalating via MADAD (Ministry of External Affairs grievance portal).

• CIC/MOEA/A/2014/000567 — passport delay > 60 days = §20(1) penalty risk for PIO.
• Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) — passport is part of personal liberty under Article 21.
• Satwant Singh Sawhney v. APO Delhi (1967) — denial of passport without reason is unconstitutional.

• Use passportindia.gov.in to find your file number and status colour-code — RTI must reference both.
• Pair RTI with a MADAD grievance ticket — provides parallel pressure.
• For urgent travel, attach confirmed visa + ticket + medical letter to invoke §7(1).
• If PV is adverse, file a separate RTI to the SP asking for the adverse remarks under §4(1)(d).

• Q: Tatkal passports too? Yes — Tatkal SLA is 1-3 days post-PV; RTI applies.
• Q: Police verification denied — what now? File RTI for adverse remarks, then represent to RPO with rebuttal.
• Q: Is RTI faster than calling 1800-258-1800? RTI gives written, dated, traceable answers; the helpline gives talking points.
• Q: Can a minor file RTI? Through guardian — yes.

• Police verification adverse remarks RTI
• Aadhaar update RTI
• How to file an RTI

1. Passports Act 1967 + Passport Rules 1980.
2. MEA Passport Seva Project Manual.
3. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) 1 SCC 248.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.