Ms. Priya Singh, a resident of Anandpur, initiated her passport renewal application in early May 2025. The mandatory police verification was successfully completed on the very same day. Shortly after, the official passport portal updated the status, confirming that the “Police Verification Report has been submitted” and the “Passport application has been granted.” However, for over two weeks since that update, the status has remained unchanged. There has been no further information regarding the printing or dispatch of the passport, leaving Ms. Singh concerned about the unusual delay and whether an unforeseen issue has occurred in the final stages of the process.

Advice in such cases

Dealing with administrative delays can be frustrating. A systematic approach is often the most effective way to resolve such issues.

• Monitor the Online Portal: Continue to check the official passport seva portal for any subtle changes in the status message.
• Use the Grievance Mechanism: The first formal step is to raise a grievance through the official Passport India portal. Clearly state your application reference number and the exact issue.
• Contact the Regional Passport Office (RPO): You can try contacting the RPO in your jurisdiction via their public enquiry numbers or email addresses. Sometimes, a direct query can resolve the matter.
• File an RTI Application: If grievances go unanswered, filing a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking the specific reason for the delay and the current status of your file can prompt action.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

Applicable Sections of Law

While this is primarily an administrative issue, certain legal provisions and principles are relevant:

• The Passports Act, 1967: This is the principal legislation governing the issuance, renewal, and refusal of passports in India. Section 5 outlines the procedure for applications and the passport authority’s obligation to process them.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005: This Act empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, making it a useful tool to ascertain the specific reasons for a delay in passport processing.
• Article 226 of the Constitution of India: In cases of unreasonable and inordinate delay, an aggrieved person can approach the High Court by filing a writ petition (specifically a writ of mandamus) to direct the passport authority to perform its duty and issue the passport in a time-bound manner.

If you are the complainant

If you are the applicant facing the delay, you are the complainant in this administrative process. Here are the steps you should take:

• Document Everything: Keep a record of your application, payment receipts, screenshots of the online status at different dates, and any correspondence with the passport office.
• Formal Grievance: Lodge a formal complaint on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). This creates an official record of your complaint.
• Send a Legal Notice: If there is no response to your grievances, you may consider having a lawyer send a legal notice to the concerned Regional Passport Officer, demanding action within a specified timeframe.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

If you are the victim

As the person whose travel plans or other official work may be hampered by the delay, you are the victim of administrative inefficiency. Your rights include:

• Right to Timely Service: As a citizen, you have a right to expect government services to be delivered within a reasonable timeframe.
• Right to Information: You have the right to know the reason for the delay in processing your application. The passport authority cannot hold your application indefinitely without a valid reason.
• Right to Legal Recourse: If administrative channels fail, you have the right to approach a court of law to seek a remedy for the inaction of the public authority.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

How the police behave in such cases

In the context of passport applications, the police’s role is limited to verification. In this specific scenario, the police have already completed their task by submitting a clear report. However, in general, issues can arise from the police verification stage:

• Delay in Verification: Sometimes, the local police station may delay conducting the physical verification or submitting their report online.
• Adverse Report: The police might submit an “adverse” or “not recommended” report due to incorrect address details, pending criminal cases, or other discrepancies. This will halt the passport process until the issue is clarified with the RPO.
• Lack of Communication: Often, if there is an issue, the police may not communicate it clearly to the applicant, leading to confusion and delays.

FAQs people normally have

What evidence is required?

To pursue a resolution, you should have the following evidence ready:

• The Application Reference Number (ARN) and file number.
• Receipt of payment for the passport application.
• Screenshots of the online portal showing the stagnant status over a period of time.
• Copies of any emails or grievance tickets filed with the passport authorities.
• Any other relevant documents submitted with your application.

How long will the investigation take?

Since this is not a criminal investigation, the timeline refers to the resolution process. It can vary:

• Grievance Portal: A response is typically expected within 1 to 4 weeks, although this can vary.
• RTI Application: A public authority is mandated to respond to an RTI within 30 days.
• Legal Notice: A legal notice usually gives the authority 15 to 30 days to respond or take action.
• Writ Petition: If the matter goes to the High Court, it could take a few weeks to a few months to get a directive, depending on the court’s schedule and the urgency demonstrated.

Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India