A formal complaint has been submitted by NGO watchdog Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) to the Chief Passport Officer, Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division under the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking an inquiry into the passport issued to Cheeli Aseervadam, currently serving as Financial Secretary at The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The complaint, which has also been marked to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, alleges that the passport was obtained on the basis of false information relating to the individual’s date of birth. It reportedly pertains to a passport issued on 23 January 2014, by the Regional Passport Office in Hyderabad.
According to the complaint, documentary evidence obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 indicates that Mr. Aseervadam’s educational records list his date of birth as 15 July 1974. However, publications of The Salvation Army, including its official Year Books for 2017, 2018, and 2019 published by its International Headquarters in London, reportedly record his date of birth as 15 July 1977.
The complainant has argued that this three-year discrepancy raises concerns of misrepresentation of identity in documents submitted for obtaining the passport. The complaint cites provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, including Section 10(3)(b), which empowers authorities to impound or revoke a passport obtained through suppression of material information, and Section 12(1)(b), which provides penalties for furnishing false information.
It has also been urged that relevant provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, relating to cheating, forgery, and use of forged documents, be examined if misrepresentation is established.
The representation has requested authorities to conduct a detailed inquiry into the date of birth declared at the time of passport application and any subsequent renewals. It has called for verification of original supporting documents, including birth certificates, educational records, and affidavits submitted during the application process.
Further, the complaint has sought initiation of prosecution under applicable laws if discrepancies are confirmed. It has also requested that, in the event of any procedural lapses or collusion by passport officials, appropriate criminal and departmental action be taken against those responsible.
The complainant stated that the representation was made in good faith to ensure the integrity of official identity documents issued by the Government of India and has sought acknowledgment and updates on the action taken.
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