To protect Indian women from being caught up in ‘fraudulent marriages’ with non-resident Indians, Sushma Swaraj, the External Affairs Minister of India, in February introduced a new bill ‘ The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 in the Upper House of the Parliament.
What did the MEA find?
Sushma Swaraj had found out that the MEA had received several complaints on cases of Indian women getting abandoned by NRI’s. Besides, they were being mentally and physically abused.
According to a record from January 2015 to November 2017, there were about 3000+ complaints with regards to Indian women being trapped by NRI’s.
Based on the information from a Press Statement, it was a necessity to initiate this bill given the fact that women marrying NRIs were facing serious problems.
Things to know :
No 1 – This bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and states, any NRI who marries an Indian citizen or a fellow NRI abroad, with no excuses will have to register the marriage within 30 days or face a bad consequence of their passports being confiscated.
No 2 – According to the bill, Passport authorities are to cancel or confiscate passport or travel documents of the accused and the court will be permitted to attach their properties, the Passport Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure have given permission for this.
No 3 – As per local laws, any NRI marrying an Indian citizen needs to be registered in India.
No 4 – If an NRI marries an Indian abroad, the designated officers in foreign countries will have to be a witness to the marriage.
No 5 – Ministry of External Affairs to host a website where summonses and warrants will be sent to the accused and this has been approved by the court.
No 6 – This bill is applicable not just for NRI’s marrying Indian women in India, but, even for the women residing outside India.
No 7 – This bill is like protection for all the Indian women married to the NRIs worldwide. This step will stop NRI’s from harassing Indian women.
