New Delhi: NRIs who harass or desert their wives may get their passports cancelled


Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Sep 18: If the Centre accepts the recommendation of a high-level panel constituted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), then Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who harass or desert their wives may have their passports cancelled.

This move will facilitate extradition of NRI spouses to India for trial. Currently, it is highly challenging to get a person charged with desertion, domestic violence or dowry harassment cases to India to face legal proceedings.

In case the passport of the NRI husband is impounded, he will not be able to leave the country or he if he is present abroad, he will be deported to India to face trial.

The MEA set up the panel in May as several women lodged complaints against their NRI husbands. In 2009, then NCW chairperson Girija Vyas had observed that “out of 10 NRI marriages, two result in the wife being abandoned after the honeymoon”.

The nine member panel headed by retired judge Arvind Kumar Goel (who is also the former chairman of Punjab’s state commission for NRIs) has also recommended that cases of domestic violence be included in the scope of extradition treaties that India inks with other countries.

“The government is most likely to accept the recommendations,” says an official from Union women and child development (WCD) ministry. Both external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and WCD minister Maneka Gandhi have spoken on this issue on several public forums and expressed government’s intent on addressing the same, the official adds.

Compulsory registration of NRI marriages and increasing financial aid from $3,000 to $6,000 provided by Indian missions to the women who have been abandoned by their husbands were among the key recommendations made by the panel. The money will help women to avail legal services in foreign lands.

It is interesting to note that Section 10 (3) of the Passport Act has a provision for impounding the passport of NRI husbands in case of an FIR or court directive. However, it is often not invoked due to lack of awareness and the cumbersome process involved.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Jagat Sheoran, Edmonton

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Rita Ji...this is not small private thing to cancel passport...it will help saving life of many innocent girls who are trapped by NRIs..

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    For me it is a quite wrong decision.Passport to be cancelled there must be good reasons like criminal acts, such as murder,drugs ,or some state affairs,etc is a reason.but small private things are not a reason.Supppose such reasons can be also turnout wrong,whereas wrong decisions are taken ,life of some people can turnout a hell.because many wives file wrong cases as dowry harassment,(Not all)rape to get money.For such cases a heavy punishment is enough.same for wife or husbands.Husbands who abandon wives form NRI s should be dealed with ext affairs ministry.It is everyones personal right in marraige case.Person who marry a Nri,should inform before marraige ,not after.mostly people from Arab nationals come here to marry girls ,later abandoned.thats a pity.

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Deva, Mumbai

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    100% correct Sir........law is equal to all, men or women only offenders will be taken care.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deepak, MANGALURU

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Y only targeting NRI's..? cancel Adhar card, BPL card, PAN card, Ration card for those in India also...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aubb, Kuwait

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    What about Modi??

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dhareef, bangakore5

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    What if the wife abondons for another man and refuses to join him in india?
    Women are equally responsoble for the evil in the society..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Henceforth all married male members’ needs to show their love openly but to their legal wife or wives only…. Those who are not renewed their Passport pls rush at least you will have valid Passport in your possession though it might have cancelled in the system.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • vincent rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Good provided applied judiciously taking all precautions

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K. C., Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Just wondering how many more inventive great ideas BJP will come up with ?
    In Mumbai language it's, "Sab ka waat lagana hai"

    DisAgree [5] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    no idea what is the underlying object in this new rule of law...,
    The present union govt is simply day in & day out peeping into personal affairs of citizens..,

    One can see it as a good development.., at the same time there is a flip side of it also...,

    DisAgree [4] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Juan, Bangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Such a perfect decision... very good initiative.. after the supreme Court has already passed Order On Sec 498A Addresses The Demands Of 'Men's Rights' Activists doing justice to all the men who become victim for the false cases filed by their wives, now this is the true justice to all the women and children who get harassed and ignored by their husband's who reside in abroad living their lives happily. God bless the mind behind this decision. And regarding domestic violence and maintenance case getting linked to trity signed, that's the best decision as so many wives after loosing all the hopes who finally file such cases get nothing till their husband attend's the trail in the court. And the NRI husband's after knowing about the case filed against them, they never come back to India for years. There are such coward people who can not take the family responsibility and do all such nonsence acts. This is the right decision by the government. wish to see this get implemented as soon as possible.

    DisAgree [20] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'luru / Kwt

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Yours is one side of the story. What about henpecked husbands who are always harassed by wives, what about those husbands abandoned by wives, especially when attracted by lucrative prospects? Is there any law to give them relief?

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rob Stan, Udupi / US

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    The dowry harassment, domestic violence & living separately in India (even though the spouse can sponsor) mostly happens in one of the following cases -
    1. Wife doesn't have a profession abroad & stays at home taking care of the house & children or stays at home alone.
    2. The difference in height between husband & wife is less than 3"-5" with husbands being on the higher side & husband is not emotionally strong.
    3. Husband's in-laws family is stronger financially & in other matters than his own family.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Note that the panel is headed by Arvind Kumar Goel who is also the former chairman of Punjab’s state commission for NRIs.

    Typically the Punjabis that end up on foreign shores do so not on account of their education. Many are from rural areas with no tertiary-level education. Their situation is vastly different from that of:

    (a) highly educated NRIs - mostly from southern India and
    (b) the low-paid NRI workers in the Gulf region.

    The general Punjabi 'problems' cannot be applied to the others.

    Of the well-educated NRIs (majority of whom are from southern India), a woman may decide not to work as soon as she gets married and goes abroad.

    Because, either she does not have sufficient confidence to mingle with people of a foreign culture, or is not keen on going through tests, interviews, performance reviews, etc. Why bother?

    This puts enormous pressure on the man because he becomes a single bread-winner. And the Indian legal system will want to punish the man even further if the wife claims of harassment - regardless of her contribution to the domestic problems.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rob Stan, Udupi / US

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    I can give you two examples for comparison
    1. I met a punjabi sardar at the local airport here while going to India a few years back. He told me that he came here via human trafficking, worked here, now has 2 acres of vineyard & married an american and he was going to visit his hometown after 19 long years. He can be compared to the example which you have given here. I don't think the law would be applicable in his case as he has married an American.
    2. I know of an acquaintance who is from North India, who married a lady from his place in India and she went back after the honeymoon. She could have weaved big dreams before coming here and may be her dreams got shattered. Height also could be one of the reasons. I do not know if she filed for divorce after going back or one of the cases where the law is being applied.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Mangalore-Mumbai

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    if so easy!
    why don't they cancel ' Sree Lalit Modi's' passport and do the rest?
    same way there are many Mallyas!
    why they behind only husbands?
    what-about if vice-versa?

    DisAgree [6] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jamal, Mangalore/Abudhabi

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    We have a live example of Late Bhaskar Shetty. His mother is still waiting for the justice. The criminals are enjoying their life in the Jail. What happens to the these types of husbands who are not killed but have lost all the hard earned money and property?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Bangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    This move will turn disastrous to men as they will not only loose their job but it will give women more power to file false charges. First of all the dowry act is already being misused and now this will totally turn diasterous.

    Don't understand which nonsense fellows are creating such ideas.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K. C., Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    They don't have patience to check the pros and cons before implementing anything. They just want to do the hardwork and no believe in harwood like institutions.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • J.F.D SOUZA, Attavar, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    What about the wives who are not taken to abroad along with husbands till their retirement? What is their fate here?

    DisAgree [7] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • ßryan, ßahrain

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Life is hard in this region, Not everyone gets a Family visa, the husband has to have a good salary to take care of his family, and feed his family and himself, with ten thousand Indian money equaliant you want to eat dates in the Gulf...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivar, Mangaluru

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    There are many husbands in gulf who have not visited India from years coz their wives back in India drained all their hard earned money and put false cases on them. There are many wives in gulf staying under husband's sponsorship and living their own life, ignoring the husband. Husband just keeps mum to save face.
    On one side we are fighting for gender equality and on the other side such foolish rules are being implemented. It is time we should stop implementation of any draconian gender biased rules.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [57] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cyril, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Unfortunate men harass wife because he is guilty of not supporting her means.
    Fortunate men get harassment from wife because he will not fulfill her wants.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mayuresh, Mumbai

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Yes some unfortunate men even abandon their first wife and child to fulfill their desires from the second wife.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lester, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    You are absolutely correct Mr. Mayuresh.

    These men divorce their first wife and act innocent in front of the society and like saints they try to intervene in others married life.

    These men like to dig their own graves.

    I appreciate your comment Mr. Mayuresh.

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • L n T, Mumbai

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    What will be a punishment for Deserting wife here and roam around the world alone.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [61] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    So, the writing on the wall is clear...

    If you are a man and wish to marry, total hell waits for you. No relief in your wildest imagination!

    So, it may be best to wait until the girlfriend turns 40, and then tie the knot.

    By that time, both will be a little concerned to chase after the police, lawyers and courts. Or worry about the confiscated passports.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • AnoNymouS, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    And what about our dear top leader who is in India (barely) and who has abandoned his wife!!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [73] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis Dsouza, Goa/KSA

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    The new rules being implemented for men, what about women ? All NRIs not able to bring their wife with him because of cost of living is very high. Many women keep illegitimate relation back at home when ever their husband go abroad after their visit to home and even many wives back in India drained all their hard earned money and put false cases on them. Is this rule only for NRIs or all citizen of India. If so, then cancel the passports of VVIPs,VIPs and so on.. The Passport issued for getting employment abroad or to visit abroad and nothing else...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Very very wrong decision...If NRI harasses his wife, then take legal action against him... Passport is nothing to do with harassment..Govt of India issues Passport NOT on the basis of HARASSING !! Suppose, If wife files a false case, what should poor husband do ? ..and one more thing, why do you think only NRIs harass their wives ?

    DisAgree [6] Agree [73] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Bangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Totally agree with you. Nonsense ideas are being created only towards males.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Latif Mapal, Jeddah - KSA

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    I think this is good step some of NRIs husband make harass his wife for example the man have wife and childers in home country but his getting marriage in foreign country and giving harass his Indian origin family.

    DisAgree [34] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Steven, Bejai/Dubai

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Yet another worthless gender-biased rule. The rule should be for both husband and wife who are NRIs and have spouses who are india based. What does the husband do if the wife refuses to join the husband as per her marital responsibility in preference for her selfish pursuits in India or comfort of her parents house and then one day after a few months or years to harass the husband files a complaint of desertion? This Law should be thought over and corrected to not worsen or destroy the institution of marriage and its contracted people.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [61] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammed, dammam saudi arabia

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    If passport Cancels , then anyone can get Job in Swacch bharath abhiyan ? ha ha ha Good Joke of the year susma jee..... and team

    DisAgree [17] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K.C., Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Why only NRIs? Cancel the passports of all Indians who desert their wives.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [94] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    At least he will now remain inside India ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [57] Reply Report Abuse

  • mak, Udupi/Kuwait

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    This is Hilarious answer

    DisAgree [4] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • SANTHOSH, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    What else you implement on men
    Anything to women. Where is the equality.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    Santosh,

    Quite agree with you. Hereafter, men will have the luxury of living in his in-laws' place, as was so far the woman's. How do you like that ?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangalore / Abudhabi

    Tue, Sep 19 2017

    Let Mallya come first we will see what will happen

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    If it is the other way round will the hubbies get 'Port Wine' at least?

    DisAgree [5] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Sep 18 2017

    OMG.
    I wonder what will happen to my friend who is always out of the Country ...

    DisAgree [10] Agree [75] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: New Delhi: NRIs who harass or desert their wives may get their passports cancelled



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