External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in February introduced the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indians Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to provide safeguards to Indian women who are trapped in fraudulent marriages with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

“Therefore, it is necessary that the marriage solemnized or otherwise in India or outside India shall be registered within a period of 30 days from the date of marriage,” the Bill’s objectives state. The Bill also seeks to amend the Passport Act, 1967 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

The proposed amendment to the Passport Act, 1967 would empower the passport authorities to impound or cause to be impounded or revoke a passport or travel document of a, NRI, if it is brought to his notice that the person has not registered his marriage within a period of 30 days from the date of marriage.

The proposed amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 would also empower the courts for issuance of summons and warrants through the specifically-designated website of the Ministry of External Affairs.