Media Center

QUESTION NO.340 VACANT POSTS IN PASSPORT OFFICES

December 13, 2018

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.340
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2018

VACANT POSTS IN PASSPORT OFFICES

340. SHRI R. VAITHILINGAM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the passport office employees have demanded to fill 700 vacant posts at the earliest;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by Government in this regard;

(c) whether they have also demanded sanction of 32 additional staff members for an increase of every 1 lakh passport applications; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) Yes. There are approximately 772 posts lying vacant in various Passport Offices across the country at different levels. As on 1 December, 2018, the sanctioned strength of Central Passport Organization is 2741. It includes recently created 32 posts of Junior Hindi Translators, 9 posts of Senior Hindi Translators and 3 posts of Assistant Director (Official Language). In addition, 15 Technical and 6 supporting staff man the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Passport Seva Project. There are presently 28 vacancies at Group ‘A’ level, 235 at Group ’B’ Gazetted level and 509 at Group ‘B’ non-Gazetted and Group ‘C’ level. The Staff Selection Commission has been indented to send the dossiers to fill 7 vacancies of Group ‘B’ non-Gazetted level and 134 of Group ‘C’ level. The vacancies at Group 'A' level are filled up by taking officers on deputation from other Government Departments. Ministry has also deployed 361 Data Entry Operators and 60 Office Assistants (MTS) against the vacant non-Gazetted posts for smooth functioning of the Passport Offices through an Outsourced Agency to bridge the gap between the sanctioned strength and the working strength of the non-Gazetted posts.

(c) & (d) As part of the Passport Seva Project, the Ministry continues to consider increase in the number of Government employees at various levels to keep pace with the growth of passports.

******

Write a Comment Write a Comment
Comments

Post A Comment

  • Name *
    E-mail *
  • Write Your Comment *
  • Verification Code * Verification Code