Bill Summary

The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019

• The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of External Affairs, Ms. Sushma Swaraj on February 11, 2019. The Bill provides for registration of marriages of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).  In addition, it amends the Passport Act, 1967, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
   
• Registration of marriages: The Bill states that every NRI who marries a citizen of India must get his marriage registered in India within thirty days.  Further, every NRI who marries an Indian citizen or another NRI outside India, must get his marriage registered with the Marriage Officer, within thirty days.  The Marriage Officer is appointed from among the diplomatic officers in the foreign country. 
   
• Impounding of passport: In case an NRI marries an Indian citizen or another NRI, and fails to register the marriage within thirty days, the passport authority may impound or revoke the passport of the NRI.
   
• Issue of summons and warrants: The Bill provides that in case a court cannot serve summons, it may issue summons by uploading it on a specific website designated by the Ministry of External Affairs.  If the person summoned does not appear before the Court, it may issue and upload a warrant for arrest on the designated website.   
   
• Further, in the case the person fails to appear before the Court as specified in the warrant, the Court may pronounce him as a proclaimed offender and upload a declaration to that effect on the website. If the accused does not appear after the proclamation has been uploaded, the Court may issue a written statement that the such a proclamation has been uploaded.  This statement will be conclusive evidence that the warrant has been issued.          

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