Face2News/Chandigarh
Whereas, it has been made to Sh.Vinay Pratap Singh, IAS, District Magistrate, Chandigarh that some travel agents are involved in fraudulent activities by deceiving and cheating citizens on the false pretext of arranging their visa or managing their affairs relating to sending persons abroad and such other related activities.
They get published misleading advertisements in leading newspapers and dupe the innocent people of UT Chandigarh and neighbouring states and after sometime, they close their offices and run away from the city The unlawful and fraudulent activities of these travel agents can cause danger to human life, health or safety of general public.
AND whereas Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh, IAS, District Magistrate, Chandigarh, is of the opinion that some steps are warranted to keep a check upon the illegal activities of such travel agents so as to avoid any harm to the life, health and safety of general public.
Now therefore, Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh, I.A.S. District Magistrate, U.T.Chandigarh in exercise of the power conferred upon him u/s 144 of the Cr.Pc., do hereby order as an emergency measure that all the foreign travel/visa agents operating in the jurisdiction of UT Chandigarh shall provide their complete antecedent as prescribed in preforma attached herewith in writing to the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate of the concerned area for the purpose of information and verification of antecedents of their owners/operators/managers within 4 weeks from issuance of this order and those travel agents who are intended to operate shall get their antecedent verified within 4 weeks of starting of their business.
Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh, DM.Chandigarh in exercise of the power conferred upon him u/s 144 of the Cr.Pc., do hereby order as an emergency measure that all the foreign travel/visa agents operating in the jurisdiction of UT Chandigarh shall provide their complete antecedent as prescribed in preforma attached herewith in writing to the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate of the concerned area for the purpose of information and verification of antecedents of their owners/operators/managers within 4 weeks from issuance of this order and those travel agents who are intended to operate shall get their antecedent verified within 4 weeks of starting of their business.
For the purpose of clarification, a travel agent means a person doing the profession which involves arranging managing, or conducting affairs relating to sending persons abroad, or which arise out of the affairs of persons sent to a foreign country, except for carrying out the business of recruitment being governed under the Emigration Act, 1983 (Central Act 31 of 1983), and shall include all or any of the following, namely -
(a) processing of applications for or relating to grant of passport or visa, or
(b) acting as an agent for a company, firm or such type of bodies or entities for- (1) selling air travel tickets; and
(1) providing means of transportation for travel to a foreign country by land or sea; or (c) providing consultancy visa service or guidance to the persons intending to go abroad for-
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Acquiring education;
Undertaking a pleasure trip as a tourist or traveler
Getting medical treatment,
Arranging cultural entertainment or musical shows,
Spreading or preaching religious, of
Participating in sports tournaments or events
(d) giving an advertisement or publicity, which relates directly or indirectly to any field of travel to a foreign country by means of publications, transmissions, communication or interest; or (e) holding of seminars of delivering of lectures to promote emigration or rendering assistance for such purpose, arranging matrimonial alliances and adoptions for the purpose of emigration; or
(g) arranging travel of any person from India to abroad for any purpose whatsoever or
(h) acting as freelancing type tout for any of the purpose mentioned in clauses (a) to (g)
It shall also include coaching institutes of IELTS, ticketing agents and general agents of
1. The SDM office shall maintain a record of travel agents operating in their jurisdiction
2 The SDM and SDPO of the concerned area shall ensure compliance of these orders
by regular checking of travel agents operating in their respective jurisdictions.
In view of the emergent nature of the order, it is being issued hereby ex-parte and is addressed to the public in general. Any breach of this order would invite action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code
This order shall come into force with effect from zero hours and shall effective for a period of sixty days up-to and including 20/6/24.