Haryana Assembly clears Bill to crack down on illegal travel agents
The Haryana Assembly today passed a Bill to check the illegal and fraudulent activities of the unscrupulous travel agents engaged in sending the Haryanvi youth to foreign countries through the “dunki route”.
The Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2025, was passed by the Assembly by junking the demand by the opposition Congress to refer the Bill to the Select Committee. The Bill proposes a jail term of up to seven years and fine up to Rs 5 lakh for travel agents found operating without obtaining a registration certificate.
Maximum 7-year jail, Rs 5 lakh fine
Under the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, travel agents found operating without obtaining a registration certificate will face a jail term of up to seven years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh
Those involved in human smuggling or in the preparation of forged documents to get jail term for not less than seven years, extendable to 10 years; fine between Rs 2-5 lakh
The development comes amid the US deportation of illegal Indian immigrants, a majority of them from Punjab and Haryana, who entered the USA through “dunki route” — an illegal and risky pathway used by travel agents to send people abroad.
Introducing the Bill, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini asserted that innocent and unemployed youth of Haryana were being lured into traps of illegal immigration though illegitimate means.”Many a time, these agents send innocent people to foreign countries illegally and such persons are caught and put behind bars by the police of these countries. Therefore, there is a dire need to curb the illegal activities of such agents,” Saini asserted.
Under the provisions of the Bill, the operation of travel agencies without registration will be a punishable offence and a travel agent operating without registration shall attract a jail term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years. There is also a provision for fine between Rs 2-5 lakh.
Meanwhile, those found involved in human smuggling or in the preparation of forged documents, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to pay fine between Rs 2-5 lakh.
The Bill proposes to establish a framework to ensure the transparency, accountability and integrity of travel agents and to check their illegal and fraudulent activities, safeguarding the interests of Haryana residents, Saini said refuting the Congress’ claims that the Bill was brought in a haste.
Under the provisions of the Bill, obtaining a registration certificate by travel agents is mandatory. Besides, fresh registration certificate will be required if a travel agent opens other offices and branches in the same or other district.
Among other provisions of the Bill, the competent authority may cancel the registration certificate on an application made to it by any person or otherwise on information on various grounds, including that the travel agent has become insolvent or bankrupt; or has been found involved in human trafficking or in preparation of forged documents; or has been convicted by a court for a criminal offence.
Earlier, Congress members, including BB Batra, Geeta Bhukkal and Aditya Surjewala, while demanding that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee, alleged that it contained deficiencies as it was brought in a haste.
