- Bribe Fighter
- 13 years ago
- 2702 views
Sharks at the Passport Office
It started even before I entered the main building. We were made to stand in a queue, and were being let in, 10 at a time. While there, touts repeatedly approached us, claiming it was "very difficult" to get a passport without involving them, which meant paying Rs.500 extra, out of which Rs.300 went to the officers at the counters above, and Rs.200 were pocketed by the touts. On entering the main building, I was amazed to see about 350-400 people crammed in the modestly proportioned lobby, which houses the respective counters. Here I witnessed corruption unlike anything I've seen before. Notwithstanding the hundreds of us ordinary citizens sweating it out in the claustrophobic atmosphere, the touts REPEATEDLY came over, BYPASSED US in the queues, went straight to the counters, and deposited the forms, about 7 TO 8 at a time, and the officers were only too happy to oblige. Even senior citizens were made to stand for hours, while the touts and the officers worked away. Finally, when my turn came, the officer asked for Rs.1200, when clearly, according to the form, the amount required for a new passport is Rs.1000. On telling him that, he claimed the extra money was the "convenience charge". I refused to pay, and because of that, even though my form was verified and approved by the ooficer himself, he sent me back saying the Rs.1000 note I had deposited was fake. As the Reserve Bank is close to the office, I took the note in question there, where I was told it was a perfectly legal and legitimate currency note. As the passport office closes at 1330 hrs, I came back again the next day, went through the same tedious process, and was again at the same counter with a different officer this time(the counter for online applications). AGAIN, I was subjected to the SAME HARASSMENT(Rs.200 "convenience charge"). I showed him the verification and approval stamp from the day before, he exchanged a few words, but finally accepted the form (I gave him the SAME note I had given the other officer the day before,and this time there was nothing wrong with the note!) and handed me the receipt, but not before threatening me with "consequences", like my form would take "a very long time for processing". This was my only my 2nd time in a government office, and it left me feeling sick in the stomach.