THE REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE OF NON-RESIDENT INDIAN BILL, 2019

About: 

• Salient Features of the Bill: 
  • It will be applicable to NRIs marrying Indian women within or even outside India.  
    
    
  • The bill proposes to provide for compulsory registration of marriage by a Non-Resident Indian within a period of thirty days from the date of marriage. 
    
    
  • It amends the Passport Act, 1967 so as to empower the passport authority to revoke a passport of an NRI man if he has not registered his marriage within a period of thirty days from the date of marriage. 
    
    
  • It amends the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to empower the Courts for issuance of summons, warrants through the Ministry of External Affairs. It further provides for attachment of the properties belonging to a proclaimed offender. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Reasons for Introducing the Bill: 
  • There have been several reports of Indian women being trapped in fraudulent marriages with Non-Resident Indians. 
    
    
  • Therefore, government has decided to bring in a legislation to provide for compulsory registration of marriage for better enforcement of rights of the deserted spouses under various family laws.  
    
    
  
  
  
• Way ahead: 
  • Since the Budget session is ending and is the last session before Lok Sabha elections, the bill is unlikely to be passed. 
    
    
  • Since it has been introduced in Rajya Sabha and is likely to remain pending there, it would not lapse on the dissolution of the present (16th) Lok Sabha on June 3.