LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3577
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2018
NRI MARRIAGES
†3577. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of cases of NRI men, who fled out of India after marrying Indian girls that came to light during the last three years and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(b) whether the Government proposes to make significant changes in the law pertaining to NRI marriages; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said law is likely to be implemented?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) This Ministry does not maintain the data relating to the number of NRI men, who fled India, after marrying Indian girls. However, it has been receiving and redressing grievances from women deserted by their NRI spouses from whole of India which pertains
to abandonment, harassment, cheating, domestic violence by their spouses residing abroad, to ascertain whereabouts of NRI husbands, request for extradition, deportation of spouse to India, request for maintenance, support, divorce or child custody and request
for legal and financial assistance to file a case against the NRI spouse.
The Government has taken following steps to address such issues;
i) Between January, 2015 and 30th July, 2018 this Ministry (including the Indian Missions abroad) has addressed 4257 complaints of distressed Indian women deserted by their NRI spouses by way of providing them counseling, guidance and information about procedures,
mechanisms for serving judicial summons on the Overseas Indian husband; filing a case in India, issuing Look Out Circulars; impounding and revocation of Indian passport of the husband; getting access to lawyers and NGOs empanelled with Indian Missions etc.
ii) With an aim to provide financial and legal assistance to distressed women married to NRI spouses by all Missions and Posts, the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) Guidelines were revised in September, 2017. The amount of legal & financial assistance to
distressed Indian women has also been increased to US$ 4000 per case. The assistance is released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association / Women’s Organisation/NGO concerned to enable it to take steps to assist the
woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case.
(b) & (c) The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Expert Committee set up under the chairmanship of Justice Arvind Kumar Goel, ex-Chairperson, NRI Commission Punjab, to look into the issues and difficulties faced by Indian nationals married to
overseas nationals of Indian origin, and suggested amendments in existing laws/policies/regulation. An Integrated Nodal Agency has been set up under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development. The other members of the INA are
a) Joint Secretary (Internal Security) & Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, b) Joint Secretary (OIA-II), Ministry of External Affairs, and c) Joint Secretary (Legal), Ministry of Law & Justice.
The INA is functioning as an effective body and providing a single window timely solution to the problems of affected women. The INA has so far held eight meetings and has issued five Look Out Circulars against the erring spouses.
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