Central Information Commission
Mr.Sebastia Mesquita vs Ministry Of External Affairs on 17 September, 2010
Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/A/2010/001145
Dated: September 17, 2010
Name of the Applicant : Shri Sebastian Mesquita
Name of Appellate Authority : M/o External Affairs, RPO, Goa
Background
1. The Applicant filed an RTI request on 17.12.09 with the PIO, Regional Passport office, Goa requesting for details of those people including their name, Father's name, date of birth, date of surrender of passport & address, who had surrendered their Indian Passport and have been issued Portuguese passports. The PIO replied on 9.2.10 denying the information sought u/s 8(1)(j) as the same is personal information. Not satisfied with the reply, the Applicant filed his first appeal which was received by the First Appellate Authority's office on 10.2.10, to which the Appellate Authority replied on 9.3.10 upholding the decision of the CPIO. Being aggrieved with this reply the Appellant filed a second appeal before the Commission dated 2.6.2010.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing for September 17, 2010.
3. Shri S.B. Hire, PIO, Goa & Shri Roychaudhuri, Advocate represented the Public Authority.
4. The Applicant was not present during the hearing.
Decision
5. The Respondent submitted that the information being sought relates to not only third party but also thousands of people who had surrendered their Indian Passports in any one of the passport offices across the country and outside India and have been issued Portuguese Passports. Information sought is therefore voluminous and compiling the same would disproportionately divert the resources of the Public Authority. He also stated present verification system allows the disclosure of information related to surrender of Indian passports only if a minimum of 3 pieces of information are known i.e. name, father's name and the date of birth of those whose particulars are needed. Without such information, it is impossible to get the information being sought unless every passport details are opened and scrutinized.
6. In view of the submission of the Respondents, the Commission advises the Appellant to provide the above said 3 details in specific cases to the PIO and directs the PIO to provide the information within 15 days of receipt of such details. As far as the new addresses are concerned, the Passport Office does not have the new addresses on record since the new passports are Portuguese passports.
7. The appeal is accordingly disposed of.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy (G.Subramanian) Deputy Registrar Cc:
1. Shri Sebastian Mesquita H.No.74/1, 1st Ward Colva Salcete Goa
2. The Public Information Officer Ministry of External Affairs Passport Office, 13A, EDC Complex, Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa.
3. The Appellate Authority Ministry of External Affairs O/o the Joint Secretary (CPV) Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi.
4. Officer Incharge, NIC.