Bill for compulsory registration of NRI marriages tabled in Rajya Sabha

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj introduced a bill in Rajya Sabha on Monday for compulsory registration of marriages of non-resident Indians (NRIs). The bill has safeguards to prevent Indian women from getting trapped in fraudulent marriages with NRIs.

The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill proposes compulsory registration of marriages of NRIs within 30 days. It also seeks to amend the Passport Act of 1967 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 to take action against NRI men, who trap women in fraudulent marriages, according to the text of the bill. The proposed amendment to the Passport Act will empower authorities to impound or revoke travel documents of NRI men, who do not register their marriages within the specified time of 30 days.

The change to the CrPC will empower courts to issue summons or warrants through the specially designated website of the external affairs ministry. It will also provide for the attachment of movable and immovable properties belonging to a proclaimed offender or fugitive, according to the text of the bill.

According to the bill, every NRI marrying an Indian citizen or another NRI will be required to register his marriage within 30 days with the Marriage Officer appointed under the provisions of the Foreign Marriage Act of 1969.

The bill states that the uploading of the summons on the specially designated website of the external affairs ministry “shall be conclusive evidence that the summons has been served against that person”.

THE REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE OF NRI BILL PROPOSES MANDATORY REGISTRATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF WEDDING