Indian government shelves orange passport plan

Manama : Indian government yesterday shelved a plan to change the colour of the passport for citizens based on their socioeconomic background. The plan to drop the last page that served as address proof was also shelved.

Indian expatriates in Bahrain had opposed the plan to change the colour from navy blue to orange for people with Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) status. The decision to cancel its plan to introduce orange colour passports for underprivileged Indians came as a huge relief to Indians living in Bahrain.

“I am glad the government has made the right decision. Different colour passports would create discrimination towards certain sections. I am glad that the decision was reverted,” said Ram Mohan Kutty, Managing Director of Kudos Travel and Tourism.

The ECR status was issued for applicants who have not passed matriculation (grade 10) and not paying income tax.

The shelving of the plan comes after a Dubai-based lawyer filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court that issued a notice to the Government of India seeking clarification on the issue. The petitioners challenged plan arguing that changing the passport colours on the basis of socioeconomic background and education would be a violation of the right to privacy and equality.