How to protect NRI wives from fraud, domestic abuse

Abstract

Since 2015, more than 11,000 women married to Indians abroad have approached India’s foreign missions with complaints of domestic crises. Many cases involve allegations of fraud and abuse. But in most instances, overseas officials are able to do only so much to help. That’s because there is little in Indian law that supports an intervention. However, that might change as the Law Commission has thrown its weight behind a proposal to offer legal recourse in such cases.

In its report on ‘Law on Matrimonial Issues Relating to NRIs and OCIs’ submitted last month, the Commission flags the lack of a central law to deal with NRIs. Sec.498A of IPC (cruelty by husband, in-laws) remains the only means NRI wives have of seeking action against their husbands and in-laws over domestic abuse. But the writ of Indian statutes doesn’t run in foreign jurisdictions, which are under no compulsion to deport an accused back home to face charges, the Commission says. [Read More]