Class 1 officer's recommendation no longer needed for 'Tatkaal' passport
The External Affairs Ministry has made it easier for those in need of urgent passports to get one. People will no longer need a Class 1 officer's recommendation for 'Tatkaal' passports. Till now, Annexure F (specimen verification certificate for passport under tatkal only) mandated it. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, MEA Secretary, said the step was taken as "the Government of India trusts its people completely."
All about the 'Tatkaal' scheme
It takes five-six weeks for issuance of a passport, but in case of emergency, people can apply under the 'Tatkaal' scheme to get it in days An additional fee is levied. 'Tatkaal' scheme is applicable only when police verification isn't required (minors younger than 15) or if passports can be issued on post-verification basis (duplicate passport/re-issue of passport without address change etc).
Who is a Class 1 officer?
Till yesterday, a Class 1 officer needed to recommend Tatkaal applications. This is someone at or above the level of deputy secretary in central or state governments, and gazetted officers including district collectors, police superintendents, assistant commissioners, tehsildars or government officials with a higher designation.
Applicants would now need Aadhaar, PAN and some other documents
However, not everyone knows a Class 1 officer or can arrange access to one, especially if they have less time on their hands. With the removal of this rule, applicants would need to submit Aadhaar, PAN and election cards only, Mulay said. If all documents are valid, "we don't need a middleman to verify it," he added. The new rules went into effect yesterday.
