An interfaith couple in Noida who was humiliated and harassed by a passport office staff over their religion has received their passports after the authorities took action over their complaint. The authorities also informed that the officer, who harassed them has been transferred.
The couple was questioned over their names and religion when they went to renew their passports. After the incident, the couple sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's intervention in their case.
The woman, Tanvi Seth, was asked to change her name in all her documents by the passport officer. "I was told my passport cannot be made because I have married a Muslim and did not change my name. I asked what I should do now. So I was told to change my name in all documents," Tanvi Seth said.
Tanvi Seth said that she felt humiliated by the officer who began shouting at her in front of everyone. She was told to change her name in all documents as “it was a girkl's duty to change her name after marriage”.
@SushmaSwaraj 2/2 married a Muslim and not changed my name ever. He spoke to me very rudely and was loud enough for others to hear while discussing my case. I have never felt so harassed ever before. The other workers at the office acknowledged his rude demeanour.
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas) June 20, 2018
@SushmaSwaraj hello ma’am I type this tweet with immense faith in justice and in you and ironically with a lot of anger / hurt and agony in my heart because of the way I was treated at the Lucknow passport office at Ratan Square by Mr. Vikas Mishra the reason because I marri 1/2
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas) June 20, 2018
She aired her grievance to Sushma Swaraj via Twitter. In a five part tweet, Tanvi Seth detailed her ordeal at the passport office. Tanvi said that her document were complete, yet her application was stopped. "He dint just put my passport on hold he even put my husband’s @5220manas passport on hold. This is clear grudge."
@SushmaSwaraj Ma’am I never ever imagined that in a place like passport office we would have a people who are moral policing the citizens. He dint just put my passport on hold he even put my husband’s @5220manas passport on hold. This is clear grudge. I was shocked at this 1/2
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas) June 20, 2018
@SushmaSwaraj behaviour. I have never felt so insulted in the last 12 years of my marriage with my husband. It is my personal choice to choose a name I want to after marriage. This is our family matter and last thing I expected to hear at the passport office was 2/3
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas) June 20, 2018
@SushmaSwaraj it is your duty to change your name after marriage. The person who spoke to my husband later said if your wife’s case would have come to me there wouldn’t have been issues because her papers are complete.
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas) June 20, 2018
Tanvi Seth accused the officer of moral policing and holding their passport without valid reasons. She said the officer used demeaning language and gestures. He also told Tanvi's husband Mohammad Anas Siddiqui to become a Hindu and change his name.
Meanwhile, the regional passport office on Thursday transferred the official accused of humiliating couple and expressed regret over the incident.
Regional passport officer Piyush Verma said a show cause notice has been issued to the officer and he has been transferred with immediate effect.
Verma said passports were issued to the couple—Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth, after he met them in his office.
"We have also sent the report to the Ministry of External Affairs for further action," Verma said assuring necessary action against the official.
The RPO expressed regret over the incident and assured that it would not be repeated.