MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, stated that no political clearance was sought from or issued by the ministry regarding Prajwal’s travel to Germany and clarified that his diplomatic passport had allowed him to travel to Germany bypassing visa and other travel formalities.
The recent controversy around Prajwal revanna not only stirred up that has sparked controversy and raised questions about the authority and influence of diplomatic passports, the case of a Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka has brought to light the extraordinary privileges and complexities associated with these prestigious travel documents. This incident sheds light on the nuances of diplomatic passports, their power, and the regulations governing their use.
Types of Passports Issued by the Indian Government
The Indian Government issues various types of passports to its citizens based on their stature and travel requirements. These include:
- Blue Personal Passport (Type P): The most common passport type issued to Indian citizens for personal travel purposes, allowing international travel for leisure, business, education, or other personal reasons.
- White Service Passport: Exclusively issued to Indian government officials and employees traveling abroad for official duties, conferences, or training programs, excluding diplomatic or consular officials.
- Orange Emigration Passport: Specifically designed for Indian citizens emigrating to other countries for employment opportunities, making it the least issued type.
- Maroon Diplomat Passport: The most powerful and exclusive type issued to diplomats, consular officers, high-ranking government officials representing India abroad, and prominent politicians. This passport grants certain immunities as per international laws, including immunity from arrest, detention, and certain legal proceedings in foreign countries.
Transition to E-Passports
In recent years, diplomatic passports have transitioned to e-passports, incorporating biometric data and advanced security features to combat fraud and enhance security measures. E-passports provide robust protection against scams, duplicates, and fraudulent activities, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of these vital travel documents.
Understanding the Power of Diplomatic Passports
Diplomatic passports, represented by the maroon cover, hold significant power and influence due to the privileges they offer. These passports are exclusively issued to individuals engaged in official government business, providing them with a range of benefits and immunities. Holders of diplomatic passports enjoy:
- Hassle-Free Travel: Diplomatic passport holders can travel to many countries without the need for visas and other travel formalities.
- Immunities: They are granted immunity from arrest, detention, and certain legal proceedings in foreign countries, ensuring their safety and freedom while on official duties.
- Political Clearance: Despite the power of a diplomatic passport, individuals are required to seek political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for personal travels, ensuring transparency and compliance with regulations.
Recent Controversies and Regulations
In Prajwal Revanna’s case, who holds a diplomat or ‘Type D’ passport, it does not allow him to use a ‘Type D’ passport for personal travel or for commercial purposes. It means that if Prajwal is travelling abroad at a private level or for a commercial matter, he is supposed to inform the authorities. And as per the rules, MPs are required to apply for prior political clearance directly to the MEA for personal travels.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, stated that no political clearance was sought from or issued by the ministry regarding Prajwal’s travel to Germany and clarified that his diplomatic passport had allowed him to travel to Germany bypassing visa and other travel formalities. Now, even if he had the diplomat passport, he did not have a political clearance from the MEA, yet the authorities at the Bangalore airport let him pass through the security and board the flight.
Germany, under the 2011 bilateral agreement, allows visa-free travel to Indian diplomatic passport holders for up to 90 days. To date, 34 countries, including France, Austria, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Switzerland and Japan, allow Indian diplomatic passport holders short-duration travel, ranging between 30 to 90 days. Even the scammers like Vijay Malya and Nirav Modi hold Diplomat passports which let them flee the country.
The complexities and privileges associated with diplomatic passports underscore the need for stringent regulations, transparency, and adherence to protocols to maintain the integrity and purpose of these powerful travel documents.
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