No more physical police verification for passports |ForumIAS

Context:

The physical police verification for getting a passport may soon be dispensed as the government plans to connect the procedure with the Crime and Criminal Tacking Network and System Project (CCTNS).

Introduction:

The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project (CCTNS) is expected to link with the passport service of the Ministry of External Affairs.
It will replace physical police verification for passport applicants with online verification in a year.

Background:

Ministry of Home Affairs conceptualized CCTNS project as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
The project was first conceptualized by the previous UPA government in 2009
The National Criminal Information Infrastructure Protection Centre had been roped in for the task.

What is CCTNS?

CCTNS is an exhaustive national database of crimes and criminals that will check the antecedents of applicants at the click of a mouse, was expected to be linked with the passport service of the External Affairs Ministry.
CCTNS is a project under Indian government for creating a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing through e-Governance.
The project is being implemented by the National Crime Record Bureau.
CCTNS has enabled 13,775 out of 15,398 police stations to enter 100 per cent data into the software.
As of now the CCTNS national database has around 7 crore data records pertaining to past and current criminal cases
CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at all levels through the adoption of e-governance.

Functioning:

It will minimize contract of an individual with police and reduce time for getting passport.
This project will interconnect about 15,398 police stations and 5,000 offices of supervisory police officers across the nation.
The mandate of the CCTNS had been expanded by incorporating citizen-centric services such as tenant verification, quick registration of FIR in any crime and connecting the network with criminal justice delivery system.
It will digitize data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all police stations.
The full implementation of the project with all the new components would lead to a Central citizen portal having linkages with State level citizen portals that will provide a number of citizen friendly services
The total outlay for the project is 2000 crore rupees, and also includes Operation and Maintenance phase for additional five years up to March 2022.

Objective:

Facilitate interaction and sharing of information between police establishments in the country
Automation and computerization of FIRs
Make police functioning citizen friendly
Provide latest information technology to investigating officers
Improve police functioning in Law & Order; Traffic Management
Keep track of the progress of Cases, including in Courts
Reduce manual and redundant Records keeping
Easy access to police services.
Improve investigation system in the country.
The project will also be integrated with e-courts & e-prison applications so that all three systems are inter-linked.

Advantages:

The CCTNS system has its own advantages for all stakeholders in law & order.

For senior officers, it provides an online monitoring system for effective supervision and a real time analysis of crime reports.
For investigating officers, it provides access to information on crimes and criminals.
It also envisages integration of Forensic labs, Finger Print Bureaus, Police Control Rooms and Police stations.
For junior police staff, it provides one time data entry of information and real time generation of reports and records.
For citizens, it provides ability to online register complaints and grievances. They can download various forms and initiate verification of servants, tenants, senior citizen registrations etc.
Significant reduction in maintenance of manual records/register.
Elimination of duplicate and inconsistent record keeping.
Timely information sharing for crime detection and thereby better convictions, crime prevention, leading to better law and order situation and internal security

Problems in implementation:

There are several problems with the implementation as follows:

Police, Law and Order is a state subject in India; and systems across States are not uniform.
Under CCTNS, each state needs to prepare and finalize the Request for Proposal (RFP) for selection of a State System Integrator (SI).
State System Integrator is basically a firm or individual who works as nodal point of contact and accountability for the implementation, integration and performance of CCTNS.
Many of the states have delayed the selection of SIs.
There has been delay in establishment of the National Data Centre.
The core applications which were developed originally needed frequent updates and changes because of performance issues and additional requirements.
The commissioning of WiMax and VSAT sites got delayed.

Conclusion:

The project will help in creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing