National Commission for Women (NCW) Consultation on Amendments to Laws to Address NRI Marriages was held at India International Centre, New Delhi on 28.02.2013. The programme was organised by Maya Foundation, Chandigarh and Women’s Legal Forum, New Delhi on behalf of NCW. 

At the Inaugural Session the special address was delivered by Smt. Mamta Sharma, Chairperson, NCW via teleconferencing. The Technical Session was chaired by Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, NCW and dignitaries included among others Shri Arvind Kumar (Retd. Justice), Chairman, NRI Commission, Punjab. 

Discussed were possible amendments to family and other laws which address, what is popularly known as NRI Marriages. The phenomenal rise in the number of these marriages has also resulted in an increase in marital disputes in which women are often the more vulnerable parties. National Commission for Woman has been nominated as the Coordinating agency at the National level for dealing with issues pertaining NRI marriages vide Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs order dated 28th April 2008.The NRI Cell of the National Commission for Women, which has been nominated as the Coordinating agency at the National level for dealing with issues pertaining to these marriages, has received an alarming number of complaints filed by wives of NRIs who have either been abandoned in India or have been forced to return to this country. Several complaints have also been received by women who have been abandoned in foreign countries without any resources or support. 

Legal issues discussed included maintenance, divorce, custody, division of property, return of dowry/stridhan and other substantive and procedural issues like jurisdictional issues which arise in these marriages. 

The programme was coordinated by Members of the NCW Sub-Committee Ms. Kirti Singh, and Ms. Pam Rajput.

View Photo Gallery