After objections from Centre, Bill on travel agents to be withdrawn

The Haryana Government will withdraw the Haryana Registration and Regulation of the Travel Agents Bill, 2024, on Monday, following Centre’s objections.

The Bill was passed unanimously by the Vidhan Sabha on February 28, 2024, to check the illegal migration of youth through the ‘donkey’ route. It had provisions for the confiscation of property, and compensation for the victims, while the punishment ranged from three to 10 years, and fines from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

When it was sent to the Governor, he reserved it for the consideration of the President of India under Article 201 of the Constitution. The Bill was then sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the President’s assent.

As per the official resolution to be placed before the House on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had sought “comments from the state government on the observations of the Ministry of Home Affairs”, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. “The matter was under consideration by the state government. In the meantime, three new criminal laws—namely, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023—were implemented from July 1, 2024…,” said the resolution.

It added, “After due deliberations, it was decided to withdraw the Bill and request the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to return the Haryana Registration and Regulation of the Travel Agents Bill, 2024, as the State of Haryana intends to send a fresh Bill after incorporating provisions enshrined in the newly enacted criminal laws as well as addressing the observations of the Government of India.” The government has not cited the Centre’s objections specifically.

The Saini government is expected to bring in new legislation on the regulation of travel agents in the current session.

Recently, youth from Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat were deported for entering the US illegally, and several cases have been registered against travel agents. On February 5, a US military aircraft brought back 104 Indians, including 33 from Haryana. The second flight on February 15 brought back 116 people, with 34 from Haryana, and the third flight on February 16 brought back 112 people, with 44 from the state.

During the journey via the 'donkey route', most individuals are apprehended at the border, imprisoned, and deported back to India. In some cases, victims are illegally held captive, and their families are pressured to pay more money. According to the police, sometimes agents provide fake tickets and visas, leading to individuals being denied air travel. Sometimes, individuals are misled by fake job offers and official-looking documents presented through emails, etc.

Moreover, agents also send individuals to countries, like Russia and Ukraine, claiming that they will obtain a visa for another country.

Since April 17, 2023, when IGP Ambala Range Sibash Kabiraj took over the SIT formed to tackle the increasing cases of illegal migration, about 1,500 FIRs have been registered across the state, while 1,222 agents have been arrested, and Rs 24.04 crore has been recovered.