• Cites admin. delays as personnel stationed in remote locales keep passports at home, says they can retrieve at any time 

The Army has issued a statement clarifying the retention of passports belonging to Army personnel following various interpretations circulating regarding an administrative order issued by the Army Headquarters on 16 February.

According to the statement, the measure has been implemented as an administrative procedure to enhance inter-departmental coordination within the Army. Under this directive, passports of personnel holding the rank of Major and below will be retained within their respective regiments. The statement further clarified: “The Army frequently deploys officers of these ranks for overseas training programmes and peacekeeping missions. To ensure the smooth execution of administrative processes related to such deployments, it is essential to verify the validity, accuracy, and prompt retrieval of their passports. However, a significant number of these personnel are stationed in remote locations and typically keep their passports at home. As a result, obtaining them in a timely manner has been challenging, causing administrative delays for Army Headquarters. In light of these challenges, new directives have been introduced to enhance passport security and streamline administrative functions. Despite this measure, Army personnel may retrieve their passports for personal use at any time.”