Following objections from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Haryana Government has amended the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Act, 2025, a law governing travel agents. The government introduced the amended bill in the House during the current budget session. Last year, the state government enacted a stringent law to curb the “donkey route.” It included provisions for up to ten years’ imprisonment and confiscation of property acquired by those convicted.
The Ministry of External Affairs has informed the Haryana government that some provisions of this law are inconsistent with the Immigration Act 1983, the central law that regulates matters related to Indian citizens going abroad for employment.
The Ministry states that travel agents can circumvent the Immigration Act by exploiting certain sections of the existing law, particularly the one that requires agents sending people abroad for employment to be registered with the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE). Keeping this in mind, the state government is going to amend some definitions of the law. According to a senior official, this amendment is being made to bring the state law in line with the Immigration Act of 1983 and to strengthen oversight of recruitment agents. Under the Immigration Act of 1983, no individual or agency can recruit people for jobs abroad without registration.
These Changes Will Be Made :
-Currently, the definition of migrant in the law includes all Indians traveling abroad for study, work, or tourism. After the amendment, those traveling abroad for employment will be excluded from this definition, as this matter falls under the Central Immigration Act.
-The definition of travel agent will also be changed. It will not include services related to placement or recruitment abroad.
-The government is also adding a new clause to the amendment, which will clarify that if there is a conflict between a state law and a central law, the central law will take precedence.
