38.6c New Delhi, India, Wednesday, October 01, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Law Commission for comprehensive law on NRI marriages [Read Report]

By Jhanak Sharma      19 February, 2024 05:29 PM      0 Comments
Law Commission for comprehensive law on NRI marriages

NEW DELHI: Noting rising occurrence of fraudulent marriages as a worrisome trend, the Law Commission has recommended for a comprehensive legislation, including compulsory registration of marriages by the non resident and overseas citizens of India with the Indian nationals.

The panel headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi conducted an in-depth study of the law concerning the instant subject-matter, including the NRI Bill, 2019 and the practical difficulties relating to the issue.

"Several reports highlight an increasing pattern where these marriages tum out to be deceptive, putting Indian spouses, especially women, in precarious situations. Deceptive practices like false assurances, misrepresentation, and abandonment are commonly associated with these fraudulent unions causing distress to Indian partners," it said.

The Commission presented its 287 th report to the Law Minister on 'Law on Matrimonial Issues Relating to Non Resident Indians and Overseas Citizens of India', having examined the matter on a reference from the Ministry of External Affairs on April 10, 2023 on the NRI Bill, 2019.

The Commission noted that desertion of married women by NRIs and victims of domestic violence in other countries is a serious problem. "They often endure financial and physical exploitation by their NRI spouses, and yet ironically, in the absence of a dedicated legal framework, victims have no legal protection. Additionally, they encounter numerous legal hurdles concerning private international law, including jurisdictional matters, service of notice, and enforcement of orders and decrees," it said.

It recommended that all marriages between the NRIs/OCIs and Indian citizens should be made compulsorily registered in India.

The said comprehensive central legislation should also include provisions on divorce, maintenance of spouse, custody and maintenance of children, serving of summons, warrants, or judicial documents on the NRIs/OCIs, etc, it said.

"Such a legislation should be made applicable not only to the NRIs but also to those individuals who come within the definition of 'Overseas Citizens of India' (OCIs) as laid down under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955," the panel said.

The Commission recommended that requisite amendments need to be introduced in the Passports Act, 1967 in order to mandate the declaration of marital status, the linking of a spouse's passport with the other and mentioning of the Marriage Registration Number on the passports of both the spouses.

Furthermore, the Government, in collaboration with the National Commission for Women and the State Commissions for Women in India and the NGOs and Indian associations abroad, should conduct awareness programs for women and their families who are about to enter into marital relationship with NRI/OCIs, it said.

The Commission noted the official data of the Ministry of External Affairs, stating 3,22,85,425 people are settled overseas as on October 5, 2023. Out of this figure, 1,36,01,780 are Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and 1,86,83,645 are Persons of Indian Origin (PIO).
 

[Read Report]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

kerala-hc-directs-comprehensive-snakebite-prevention-guidelines-for-schools
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC Directs Comprehensive Snakebite Prevention Guidelines For Schools [Read Order]

Kerala High Court directs comprehensive snakebite prevention and management guidelines for schools, ensuring safety, awareness, and emergency response.

30 September, 2025 08:46 PM
sc-orders-two-judicial-officers-to-go-for-seven-days-training-for-flawed-bail-order
Trending Judiciary
SC orders two judicial officers to go for seven days training for flawed bail order [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court quashes flawed bail order, directs two Delhi judges to undergo 7-day special training on judicial conduct and bail rulings.

30 September, 2025 09:58 PM

TOP STORIES

ktka-hc-stays-order-to-cap-movie-ticket-price-at-rs-200
Trending Judiciary
Ktka HC stays order to cap movie ticket price at Rs 200

Karnataka HC stays govt order capping movie ticket prices at ₹200, citing violation of constitutional rights and lack of legal authority.

25 September, 2025 12:22 AM
sc-suspends-20-year-jail-term-of-roman-catholic-priest-for-repeatedly-raping-class-viii-student
Trending Judiciary
SC suspends 20 year jail term of Roman Catholic priest for repeatedly raping class VIII student

SC suspends 20-year jail term of Kerala priest Father Edwin Pigarez, convicted of repeatedly raping a Class VIII girl, citing decade already served.

25 September, 2025 12:32 AM
sc-questions-inordinate-delay-in-deciding-mercy-plea-of-convict-in-cm-assassination-case
Trending Judiciary
SC questions inordinate delay in deciding mercy plea of convict in CM assassination case

SC questions Centre over 15-year delay in deciding mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in Punjab CM Beant Singh’s 1995 assassination.

25 September, 2025 12:47 AM
scba-chief-writes-to-cji-law-minister-for-finalising-mop-on-appointment-of-judges
Trending Legal Insiders
SCBA chief writes to CJI, Law Minister for finalising MoP on appointment of judges [Read Letter]

SCBA chief urges CJI and Law Minister to finalise MoP for judges’ appointments, seeking transparency, equity, and merit-based framework.

25 September, 2025 12:58 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email