Passport details of third party are disclosable under the RTI Act

The Commission holds that details of a passport are readily made 
available by any individual in a number of instances, example to 
travel agents, at airline counters, and whenever proof of residence 
for telephone connections etc. is required. For this reason, disclosure 
of details of a passport cannot be considered as causing unwarranted 
invasion of the privacy of an individual and, therefore, is not 
exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. 
Central Information Commission 
CIC/OK/A/2008/987/AD 
Dated December 22, 2008 
Name of the Appellant : Mr.Ansari Masud A.K 
 192-Kutbi Manzil, Flat No.10 
 CST Road, Kurla (W) 
 Mumbai 400 070 
Name of Public Authority : The CPIO 
Ministry of External Affairs 
Regional Passport Office 
Worli 
Mumbai 400 025 
Background 

1. The RTI request was filed on 14.3.07. The Appellant requested for 
information about the passport and other enclosures of passport of 
one mr. Janu Pawar besides action taken on his complaint dated 
28.4.08 . The CPIO replied on 13.5.08 denying the information under 
Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. Dissatisfied with the reply, the 
Appellant filed his first appeal on 5.6.08. The Appellate Authority 
replied on 12.6.08 dismissing the appeal. The Appellant filed his 
second appeal before the CIC on 24.7.08. 
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, 
scheduled the hearing on December 22, 2008 
3. Mr.B.S.Rokade, Asst. Passport Officer and RPIO represented the Public 
Authority. 
4. The Appellant Mr.Ansari Masud A.K. was represented by Mr Mohd. Arif 
Khan during the hearing. Decision 
5. The Appellant’s representative submitted that he is not well versed 
with the details of the case and was unable to respond to queries from 
the Commission. 
6. The Commission holds that details of a passport are readily made 
available by any individual in a number of instances, example to 
travel agents, at airline counters, and whenever proof of residence 
for telephone connections etc. is required. For this reason, disclosure 
of details of a passport cannot be considered as causing unwarranted 
invasion of the privacy of an individual and, therefore, is not 
exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. 
7. After going through the arguments provided by the Appellant in his 
appeal and convinced that disclosure of details of the passport is in 
public interest, the Commission directs the PIO to provide the details 
of passport of Mr. Janu Pawar to the Appellant as requested in his RTI 
application within 15 days of receipt of this Order. 
8. The appeal is disposed off. 
 (Annapurna Dixit) 
 Information Commissioner 

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