New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document issued to regulate the departure of citizens from the country, rather than a definitive tool to verify citizenship. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that passports are issued following strict verification procedures outlined under the Passports Act of 1967 and the Passports Rules of 1980. The statement comes amidst an intense national debate regarding the legal scope of the document, with Jaiswal adding that currently less than eight per cent of the Indian population holds a passport.
The controversy erupted following a briefing on Passport Seva Divas, where senior ministry officials stated that the document is meant for international travel and does not serve as standalone proof of citizenship. This initial clarification was prompted by inquiries into whether a passport could be used to establish citizenship during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission across several states. The comments quickly drew sharp criticism from opposition political parties, including the Congress, which questioned how a document granted exclusively to nationals could not reflect their citizenship status. Opposition leaders accused the government of setting a dangerous precedent that could potentially allow for the arbitrary denial of citizenship rights to citizens.
In response to the backlash, the ministry reiterated the strict legal definition found within the Passports Act of 1967, which designates the document specifically for regulating foreign travel. The government emphasized that while the application process involves rigorous background checks, the document’s legal framework remains tied to travel regulation. The political row highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding citizenship verification methods and electoral roll revisions across the country.
