NEW DELHI: The govern- ment recently introduced in the Lok Sabha a bill to amend the Passports Act of 1967 providing for impounding of passports obtained by suppression of material information and stringent punishment for such of- fences.
In the statement of objects and reasons append to the bill, Minister of State for External Affairs R.L.Bhatia said on the basis of experience gained in the administration of the act it was found necessary to amend it for its better administration.
The bill empowers the Central Government to prescribe the fee by rules taking into consideration the actual expenditure to be incurred in designing and preparation of the passport booklet. Extension of validity period of a passport issued for a shorter period is also provided for.
IT seeks to enhance the punishment from six months to two years imprisonment and the fine from Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 for the offences under Section 12 of the Act
New provision has been made providing for stringent punish- ment for a person who is not a citizen of India if he makes or obtain passport by suppression of information about his nationality.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992
