Immigration firms flout rules with impunity

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 19

Though the state government has made it mandatory for immigration agencies to display their respective registration numbers on all types of advertisement issued by them, however, numerous hoardings installed across the state are sans registeration number.

The Punjab government had issued a notification and made it mandatory for the immigration firms to display their registration numbers. Moreover, the chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had also issued fresh instructions to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts to ensure that immigration agencies follow the norms.

During a reality check at various spots in Ludhiana, Mullanpur Dakha and Jagraon, one could find various immigration hoardings without registration numbers.

Interestingly, the hoardings have not just been installed along the highway and private buildings but also at government buildings. An immigration firm has installed a hoarding right outside the Jagraon Deputy Superintendent of Police office which does not feature registration number.

“When the government agencies responsible for implementing the rules are so ignorant, how can one expect justice incase of a fraud?” asked Kanwaljit Khanna, general secretary of Inqulabi Kendra, Punjab.

Senior Superintendent of Police Jagraon Surjit Singh said, “ I am not aware about the absence of registration number on the hoarding installed outside DSP office. Appropriate action will be taken against the immigration firm.”

Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Pradeep Aggarwal said the district administration has already forwarded the copies of the government notification to immigration agencies.

He said, “If the immigration agencies have not mentioned their registration numbers on their hoardings, we will take a stern action against them.”