What to do if you are being harassed by an NRI spouse or in-laws?

In such NRI marriages, the exacerbated danger is that the woman is frequently 'isolated' away from home in an alien country, facing language restrictions, communication issues, lack of sufficient local criminal justice information, police and legal system information. This article looks at the remedies available to such people, especially women who, after moving to a foreign jurisdiction, are victims of violence.

Wed Mar 03 2021 | Family Law | Comments (0)

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NRI marriages are either as an Indian citizen (when they were legally a 'NRI') or as a citizen of that other country (when they were legally a PIO-a person of Indian origin) between an Indian from India and an Indian residing in another country, as is widely known (thus NRI-a non-resident Indian). Even the usual cautions observed in traditional matchmaking are totally overlooked by families in their eagerness not to let go of such a lucrative marriage offer (usually for the women). They also forget that in the event of things going wrong in an NRI marriage, the woman's recourse to justice is greatly reduced and complicated. The aggravated danger in such a marriage is that the woman alone is far from home in an unfamiliar country, facing language limitations, communication difficulties, lack of adequate knowledge on local criminal justice, information on the police and legal system. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of support networks for friends and family and monetary restrictions that leave the abandoned wife utterly helpless and stranded.

Forms of disputes relating to an NRI marriage which typically occur.



There are very common parallel marriage petitions, one in the foreign country in which the couple resides, and another by the parties in India.

Who are NRIs and what is an NRI marriage?


An NRI is a person who holds an Indian passport and has temporarily immigrated to another nation for a certain period of time. 'NRI marriages' typically means a marriage between an Indian woman and an Indian man living in another country, as an Indian citizen (when he will legally be a 'NRI') or as a citizen of that country (NRI-non-resident Indian) (when he would legally be a PIO- person of Indian origin).

What law applies to Non-resident Indian marriage?


The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the International Marriage Act, 1969 and other personal laws regulating both partners are various laws governing NRI marriages. The rule according to which the parties have married is the law regulating marriage disputes. The same family of law also regulates other privileges linked to matrimonial alliances, such as inheritance and succession, adoption.Interestingly, even the laws of that country which extend to marriage, divorce and all other sorts of disputes, depending on the laws of the country where the couple resides.

What to do if the spouse or in-laws harass the NRI husband or wife?


In cases where an NRI husband or wife is abused by in-laws or spouse in a foreign country, Sections 3 and 4 of the Indian Penal Code are eligible for rescue. Section 3 allows the courts with criminal jurisdiction to prosecute a crime committed by a person outside the territory of India if that person is subject to Indian law. This section also refers to those who are protected by some specific legislation, such as the Hindu Marriage Act 1954 or the Special Marriage Act, taking them under Indian jurisdiction.

Section 3 of the Indian Penal Code states, “Any person liable, by any law of India, to be tried for an offence committed beyond India is to be dealt with according to the provisions of this Code for any act committed beyond India in the same manner as if such act had been committed within the territory of India.”

Remedies


There are cases in which in-laws exert pressure on their daughter-in-law living abroad for dowry while sitting in India. In most cases, Section 108 of the Indian Penal code states, “A person abetting an offence who, in India, abets the commission of any act within and beyond India which would constitute an offence as if committed in India.”

Here is a stepwise approach to what to do if the spouse or in-laws harass the NRI husband or wife.


Do’s and don’ts: NRI marriages


Do’s Check the personal details of the NRI groom, such as:

  1. Marital status: if he is single, separated, separated, divorced, Details of employment: qualification and post, wage, office address, employer and qualifications, immigration status, visa form, eligibility to take the spouse to the other country
  2. Financial status, property that he is said to own in India, address of residence, family history, visa, passport. Registration card for voters or aliens, Social Security number.
  3. Insist that a registered marriage be solemnised in India along with religious marriage with sufficient evidence such as photos, etc.


Don’ts



Is there a government scheme to support women deserted by their husbands?


Yes. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come up with a plausible solution to this problem. A "Judicial and Financial Assistance to Indian Women Abandoned by their Overseas Indian Husbands" scheme is in effect. The scheme is a welfare measure to help women of Indian descent who have been fraudulently abandoned by their Indian husbands abroad through the Indian Mission abroad with their NGOs, lawyers, etc.

When can a passport be cancelled in such cases?


Rajiv Dayal v. Union of India & Ors. is a judgement that shows that if the Indian courts have not responded to the summons, the wife still has an available remedy under Section 10 of the Passport Act to revoke or impound the passport of the NRI husband.

NRI appearance before an Indian Court of Law


Section 105 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.) allows for mutual armaments to be rendered for the service of summons/warrants/judicial procedures by the central government with foreign governments.

Tags: Domestic Violence, NRIs, Immigration, PIOs, Dowry, Divorce

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