The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab government to decide on a representation seeking action against illegal travel agents. The plea was filed in the wake of the deportation of several illegal Indian immigrants from the US recently. A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Harmeet Singh Grewal passed the direction while disposing of the plea of advocate Kanwar Pahul Singh on February 17. The petitioner further sought setting up of \”emigration check posts\” and an upgraded list of \”certified recruiting agents\” to prevent illegal immigration. The state and the Centre were directed to consider the representation and take a decision on the matter, Advocate Dheeraj Jain said. The Protector of Emigrants in Chandigarh has forwarded a total of 127 complaints over the unscrupulous agents to Punjab government for action in the past year. Of the complaints, 57 were received from victims, he said. He sought directions for immediate action against all such fake travel agents operating in the state under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act to ensure the prevention of human trafficking via \”donkey routes\”
