New immigration law in the offing

A draft of a new immigration law has been prepared by the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, which will now initiate consultations with law and home ministries to finalise the document before tabling it in Parliament.

The draft was prepared after a need was felt to have a new immigration regulation law in the wake of changing global circumstances and growing incidents of Indians being exploited in absence of a more regulative legislation with strict  penal provisions.

"A draft for the new (immigration) legislation is ready," minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi said.

Describing the draft law as "progressive", Ravi said his ministry will now discuss it with various stakeholders, including law ministry, home ministry and external affairs ministry.

"Then we will move Parliament to pass the new enactment to have regulated migration," he added.

The draft provides for more power to the state police to deal with unscrupulous agents who dupe those migrating to other countries.

It also aims at fixing responsibility of agents and officials involved in the immigration process.

Noting that the existing law is the basis of the draft, Ravi said, "It will be a very progressive law to deal with the changed circumstances around us."

The minister said the existing Immigration Act will be repealed "after the Cabinet approves" the draft.

Meanwhile, officials said the new legislation would be finalised in the next two to three months after consultations with ministries concerned.