Steps to Stop Corruption at Immigration Centres

Several measures have been taken to facilitate the travellers and to prevent corruption by the immigration staff.  As far as the Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) managed by Bureau of Immigration are concerned, the Immigration Officers work in an open area and remain under constant view/watch of passengers and staff of other agencies.  As such there is hardly any scope for them to indulge in corrupt practice at Immigration Counters.

While replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha ,Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs said following measures have been taken to curb corruption in Immigration:-

i.        Entire Immigration Area has been kept under CCTV surveillance round the clock.

ii.      Constant briefing to all officers, including supervisory staff, is given during weekly meetings and training sessions. 

iii.    Immigration counters at arrival/departures are so positioned so that constant vigil can be maintained by supervising officers.

iv.    Close supervision is maintained by Inspector/ACP level officers over the immigration area.

v.      Surprise checks are carried out by the FRRO and senior officers including during night/peak hours.

vi.    Feedback forms have been provided at Immigration Counters and placed near exit gates of Immigration.

vii.  Contact details of the FRROs are available in the Website of BoI to register any complaints against the Immigration staff or to provide their suggestions for improvement of the working of the staff.

Indian nationals arriving as deportees from abroad on various grounds are examined for ascertaining the veracity /genuineness of the travel documents used; involvement of agents etc from security as well as human trafficking angle, modus operandi and route adopted by the passengers. This helps in identifying new trends   emerging in human trafficking.  The focus of examination is on confirming the nationality status of the person and genuineness of the travel document. The persons arriving as deportees for violation of only Visa rules are not examined deeply. Appropriate legal action is taken wherever made out without causing any undue harassment to any passenger by Immigration officials.