Mangalore: The new KPCC secretary from coastal DK district lawyer Ivan D’Souza, showed his dissatisfaction over the upgraded, full-fledged Mangalore Passport Service Centre located in Kodialbail, by accusing its officials of sluggishness in their air-conditioned cabins. Ivan pronounced them to be far below local expectations in work of the people and state.
Ivan was addressing Press meet in DKCC office on Thursday after seeing his photos in local dailies brought out by his admirers. He welcomed the upgrading of Mangalore and Hubli PS Centres. But he complained of unjustifiable long delay in month, for a passport issue here.
D’Souza argued as a lawyer that it was the inherent right of every citizen in India, to secure his/her passport in time. In emergency, a Tatkal (immediate) scheme is at work, introduced by Govt. of India, on fast track, he reminded.
Police verification had delayed over 7,000 passports being issued in Mangalore. Such in competency cannot be easily condoned, D’Souza hissed. He urged the Police department to be alert and never negligent in duties, on passport matters.
The Congress leader who lost an election in 2008 in the city, said he had met SM Krishna (former CM and present External Affairs minister) and recently urged him to open a ‘Tatkal’ service section in the port city of Mangalore, for speedy disposal of a heavy backlog in local PSC. He asked for a separate PSC also for Udupi, as there was a jump in passport demands on the west coast in recent months.