Lok Sabha passes Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025; Amit Shah stresses national security
Public Lokpal
March 27, 2025
Lok Sabha passes Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025; Amit Shah stresses national security
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 on Thursday, with Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that those who come to India for business, education and investment are welcome, but those who pose a threat to security will face stringent action.
Various amendments moved by Opposition members were negated and the bill was passed by a voice vote.
Shah said the bill is necessary to strengthen the country's security and economy, promote manufacturing and trade, get global recognition for the education system and help universities earn international repute.
Replying to a debate on the bill, he said the proposed legislation will strengthen the country's security, boost economy and business, besides encouraging the health and education sectors.
Shah also said the bill will ensure the country gets up-to-date information about every foreigner visiting India.
"This is very important. The main issue is that the immigration is not an isolated subject but it is directly or indirectly linked to various issues. The bill will ensure a close monitoring of everyone who visits India, why do they visit India and how long they want to stay in India. It is absolutely necessary to know the details of every foreigner visiting India," he said after over the three-hour-long debate.
Opposition MPs claimed on Thursday that certain provisions of a Bill that seeks to streamline various services related to immigration and foreigners give "arbitrary powers" to immigration authorities and demanded that it be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for a detailed scrutiny.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 was moved in the Lok Sabha earlier this month.
Initiating a debate on the Bill, Congress MP Manish Tewari said its provisions give "arbitrary powers" to the government for exempting certain categories of foreigners from the law.
He also criticised a provision that makes the immigration officer's decision final and binding in case of a dispute.
"This essentially means that there is no appeal, no argument and no lawyer. Whatever the immigration officer decides will be absolute," Tewari said.
Comparing the Bill with immigration laws in other countries, he pointed out that the United States has immigration judges and Canada has an Immigration and Refugee Board, which provides avenues for appeals.
"Here, there is no such mechanism. The only recourse is to approach the high court under Article 226 (of the Constitution) or move the Supreme Court. There is a need to incorporate the safeguard of immigration judges in this law," the Congress leader said.
He also raised concerns over another provision that empowers immigration officers to seize damaged passports, without clearly defining what constitutes "damage".
"This provision allows for arbitrariness and gives immigration officers unchecked power to harass individuals by declaring their passports damaged and seizing them. Worse, there is no appeal against such decisions," he said.
Tewari also questioned clauses of the Bill, which state that any foreigner suspected of wrongdoing can be arrested by any head constable and jailed for two to seven years, saying at least the power should be given to an official of the rank of an inspector.
Opposition MPs claimed on Thursday that certain provisions of a Bill that seeks to streamline various services related to immigration and foreigners give "arbitrary powers" to immigration authorities and demanded that it be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for a detailed scrutiny.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 was moved in the Lok Sabha earlier this month.
Initiating a debate on the Bill, Congress MP Manish Tewari said its provisions give "arbitrary powers" to the government for exempting certain categories of foreigners from the law.
He also criticised a provision that makes the immigration officer's decision final and binding in case of a dispute.
"This essentially means that there is no appeal, no argument and no lawyer. Whatever the immigration officer decides will be absolute," Tewari said.
Comparing the Bill with immigration laws in other countries, he pointed out that the United States has immigration judges and Canada has an Immigration and Refugee Board, which provides avenues for appeals.
"Here, there is no such mechanism. The only recourse is to approach the high court under Article 226 (of the Constitution) or move the Supreme Court. There is a need to incorporate the safeguard of immigration judges in this law," the Congress leader said.
He also raised concerns over another provision that empowers immigration officers to seize damaged passports, without clearly defining what constitutes "damage".
"This provision allows for arbitrariness and gives immigration officers unchecked power to harass individuals by declaring their passports damaged and seizing them. Worse, there is no appeal against such decisions," he said.
Tewari also questioned clauses of the Bill, which state that any foreigner suspected of wrongdoing can be arrested by any head constable and jailed for two to seven years, saying at least the power should be given to an official of the rank of an inspector.
He urged Home Minister Amit Shah to refer the Bill to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for a clause-by-clause examination, before bringing it back to the House in a refined form.
Supporting the demand, Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai emphasised that the Bill pertains to national security and international matters, necessitating a thorough review by a committee.
Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray also backed the demand, asserting that Shah has introduced a stringent law.
"I believe this Bill should be sent to a joint select committee as it requires a detailed examination," he said.
The proposed legislation is aimed at streamlining various services related to immigration and foreigners, including their entry, exit and stay in India.
The entry, exit and stay of foreigners in India are currently governed by the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and the Foreigners Act, 1946.
While Indian visas of all categories to foreigners can be granted in the physical or sticker forms by Indian missions or posts located abroad, the Bureau of Immigration grants electronic visas under seven categories to people from 167 countries.
Besides, a visa on arrival is granted by immigration authorities at six designated airports to the citizens of three countries -- Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (only for such UAE nationals who had earlier obtained an e-visa or a regular or paper visa for India).
The other opposition MPs who demanded that the Bill be sent to either a JPC or a parliamentary standing committee included N K Premachandran (RSP), Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha from CPI(ML) Liberation, Malwinder Singh Kang (AAP), Manoj Kumar (Congress), Sudhakar Singh (RJD) and Sukhdeo Bhagat (Congress).
PTI
