New immigration law in the offing

Manash Pratim Bhuyan and Priyanka Tikoo

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) A draft of a new India's
immigration law has been prepared by the Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs, which will now initiate consultations with Law
and Home ministries to finalise the document before tabling it
in Parliament.

The draft was prepared after a need was felt to have a
new immigration regulation law in the wake of changing global
circumstances and growing incidents of Indians being exploited
in absence of a more regulative legislation with strict penal
provisions.

"A draft for the new (immigration) legislation is ready,"
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told PTI.

Describing the draft law as "progressive", Ravi said his
ministry will now discuss it with various stakeholders,
including Law Ministry, Home Ministry and External Affairs
Ministry.

"Then we will move Parliament to pass the new enactment
to have regulated migration," he added.

The draft provides for more power to the state police to
deal with unscrupulous agents who dupe those migrating to
other countries.

It also aims at fixing responsibility of agents and
officials involved in the immigration process.

Noting that the existing law is the basis of the draft,
Ravi said, "It will be a very progressive law to deal with the
changed circumstances around us."

The minister said the existing Immigration Act will be
repealed "after the Cabinet approves" the draft.

Meanwhile, officials said the new legislation would be
finalised in the next two to three months after consultations
with ministries concerned. PTI MPB
AM