Punjab News- Deputy chief minister goes tough with fraudulent travel agents

Chandigarh, September 16, 2013: Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab has directed all the deputy commissioners of the state to register each and every Travel Agent under Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act and issue licenses on a campaign basis latest by October, 2013.

In a communiqué issued here today, Badal said that these directions have been issued to keep a tab on the illegal activities of many unscrupulous Travel Agents working unregistered, exploiting many innocent people of the state. To prevent these ongoing mal-practices, the Government has passed the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act with a view to checking and curbing their illegal/fraudulent activities and malpractices. Under the Act,. Travel Agents or Emigration Consultants or Ticketing Agents have got to be registered.

D.S.Bains, Principal Secretary Home said that the Act and Rules framed have been uploaded on the website www.punjabgovt.gov.in.  He also asked the DCS to ensure that each license would have to bear a unique number to be quoted by the licensees. He also said that advertisements in this regard were also being issued separately.