Kerala Govt to entrust passport verification duty to SI

Thiruvananthapuram, July 6 (UNI) Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today told the Assembly that the State Government would entrust passport verification duty to Sub-Inspectors.

During question hour, he said the verification was being done by the DySP of the District Special Branch of Police and the decision was taken as the current system had caused hardship to the local people.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, while replying to questions from Mr K K Chandran of the CPI(M) and others, said the Government would look into the delay in getting renewed passports and take steps to avoid the delay.

He said the Government would also seriously consider opening a new passport office in Kasaragod, if there was any possibility for it.

It had also noted that Malayalees were facing serious language problems in the Embassies in the Gulf region, Mr Achuthanandan said and assured that the matter would be brought to the notice of the Centre seeking to appoint Malayalees there.

The Chief Minister said the Government had also noted that people approaching the passport office for various issues, including emigration, were facing difficulties and the matter would also be brought to the attention of the Centre.

UNI