JALANDHAR: North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) applauds the Indian Law Commission which recommended that comprehensive central legislation should be enacted to deal with all facets of such marriages between NRIs and foreign citizens of Indian origin with Indian citizens that rising occurrence of fraudulent marriages involving Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) marrying Indian women and deserting them months later.
The Law Commission has recommended that comprehensive central legislation should be enacted to deal with all facets of such marriages between NRIs and foreign citizens of Indian origin with Indian citizens.
Such proposed legislation should be made applicable not only to the NRIs but also to those individuals who come within the definition of 'Overseas Citizens of India' (OCIs) as laid down under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 Law on Matrimonial Issues Relating to Non-Resident Indians and Overseas Citizens of India” submitted to the Government added Satnam Singh Chahal president of NAPA.
“The said comprehensive central legislation should also include provisions on divorce, maintenance of spouse, custody and maintenance of children, serving of summons, warrants, or judicial documents on the NRIs/OCIs, etc., ” said the Law Commission which advises the government on legal issues.NAPA also recommended that all marriages between the NRIs/OCIs and Indian citizens should be compulsorily registered in India.
Chahal urged the Law Commission that the law panel suggest requisite amendments in the Passports Act, 1967 to mandate the declaration of marital status, linking of a spouse's passport with the other, and mentioning of the Marriage Registration Number on the passports of both spouses.
“Furthermore, the Government, in collaboration with the National Commission for Women and the State Commissions for Women in India and the NGOs and Indian associations abroad, should conduct awareness programs for women and their families who are about to enter into marital relationships with NRIs/OCIs, ” it said.
Chahal further said that to provide punishment for non-registration of marriage, misrepresentation of acts before the foreign court to seek ex-parte decree of divorce, desertion of Indian spouse, and cruelty and harassment of the Indian spouse, it is recommended that the NRI Bill, 2019 needs incorporation of provisions about suspension of passports or travel documents in certain cases