IN VIDHAN SABHA SESSION: Punjab to enact two new laws for NRIs

Chandigarh, December 6, 2012: The Punjab Government is all set to enact two new laws for the welfare of NRIs including ‘Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act’ and ‘Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act’ and the both acts would be passed in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session.  

Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister for NRIs Affairs, disclosing this in a high-level meeting said that to save the youngsters of the state from the illegal network of unauthorized travel agents, the newly formed ‘Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Bill’ would be produced in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session.

He said that after enactment of the Act, the travel agents would have to register themselves with the competent authority of Punjab Government.  He said that Punjab would be the first state in the country, which would introduce such a stringent law against the illegal practices of unauthorised travel agents. He said that the new act would encourage the youngsters to go abroad through a proper and legal channel.  

Informing about the second proposed law namely ‘Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act’, which would also be brought in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session, Majithia said that this first of its own kind law would also tighten the noose of grooms against fraud marriages as it would be mandatory for NRIs to register their marriage with the Registrar of Marriages along with their full details of abroad and their address in India.

Majithia, who is also holding the portfolio of Revenue Minister, Punjab said that Punjab Government was fully committed to resolve the long pending property disputes of NRIs and the state has taken several initiatives in this regard. He said that fresh orders have also been issued to all the Revenue Courts to redress the cases pertaining to NRIs on priority basis to save the precious time and energy of NRIs.   

Prominent amongst those were present in the meeting included Daljeet Singh Cheema, Pargat Singh, both MLAs, S. K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM, D.S. Bains, Secretary Home, S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs, N.S. Kang, Financial Commissioner Revenue, S. R. Ladhar, Divisional Commissioner Jalandhar, Anurag Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Roop Nagar, B. Purushartha, Commissioner NRI Affairs, Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Priyank Bharti, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Alak Nanda Dyal, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to CM and D.S. Mangat, Director Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab.