It refers to decision of Union government for not printing last page of Indian passports primarily to save identity of single parent and adopted child. Passport used to be the most authentic identity-proof issued only after reliable police-verification, as such deleting last page altogether is not advisable. Column of parents’ names could have been avoided to be printed. Rather new-designed passports should be issued where details printed on last page (without parents’ names) may be printed on page facing the page having name of passport-holder so that photocopy in single sheet may be enough to be submitted as proof of identity-proof of passport-holder.
Idea of having different (orange) coloured jacket-cover for ECR (Emigration Check Required) though seems good for easy identification by emigration-authorities, but may pose practical difficulty when passport-booklet will have to be applied afresh for a changed passport in case passport is wrongly issued under ECR category rather than ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) category, or category of passport-holder later changed to ECNR category. Presently a rubber stamp for changed category is put on passports when switching over to ECNR category from ECR category. System may be modified whereby replacement by a new passport-booklet required because of changed category may be in a time-bound period with passport-holder not requiring cost for changed passport-booklet.
MADHU AGRAWAL