District Magistrate Cracks Down on Fraudulent Travel Agents in Chandigarh: Mandatory Registration Ordered Under BNSS, 2023
The Voice of Chandigarh
In a decisive move to curb rising cases of visa fraud and emigration scams, the District Magistrate of U.T. Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, IAS, has invoked Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 to impose strict regulatory measures on all foreign travel and visa agents operating within the Union Territory.
As per the Order No. DM/MA/2025/14628 dated 04/07/2025, all travel agents engaged in facilitating foreign travel—whether for education, tourism, employment, or any other purpose—must now submit their complete antecedents in a prescribed proforma to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of their respective jurisdictions. This order comes in response to multiple instances where unscrupulous agents misled citizens with false promises, issued fraudulent advertisements, and eventually absconded, leaving victims financially and emotionally distressed.
“There is credible information that some travel agents are indulging in unlawful and fraudulent activities that endanger the safety, health, and lives of the public,” stated the order issued by the District Magistrate.
🔍 Who Comes Under the Scanner?
The order casts a wide net, covering individuals and entities involved in:
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Visa and passport application processing
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Air ticketing and travel arrangements for foreign countries
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Visa consultancy for education, tourism, medical, cultural, or religious travel
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Organizing foreign seminars or promotional events
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Advertising or promoting foreign travel services
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Arranging matrimonial alliances and adoptions with foreign links
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Freelance touts connected to the above activities
It also includes IELTS coaching centers, airline ticketing agents, and general agents of airlines, all of whom must comply.
📝 New Guidelines for Operation
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Existing agents must immediately file antecedents as per the official format.
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New agents must submit antecedents within 4 weeks of starting operations.
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The SDM office will maintain records of all registered agents.
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SDMs and SDPOs will conduct periodic inspections to enforce compliance.
⚖️ Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Failure to adhere to the order may attract prosecution under Section 223 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with other relevant legal provisions.
The directive, which comes into effect from 00:00 hours on July 7, 2025, will remain in force for 60 days, up to and including September 4, 2025.
📣 Public Interest Priority
Describing the order as an “emergency measure”, the District Magistrate has emphasized its public interest intent and noted that it is being issued ex-parte due to the urgent nature of the matter.
