The Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1920

VOL. IV-B

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THE PASSPORT (ENTRY INTO INDIA) ACT, 1920
ACT NO. 34 OF 1920 1*
[9th September, 1920.]

An Act  to  take  power  to  require  passports  of  persons  entering
2*[India].

     WHEREAS it is expedient to take power to require passports of
persons entering 2*[India]; It is hereby enacted as follows:-



1.
Short title and extent.

1.   Short  title  and  extent.- (1) This Act  may  be  called  3*[the
Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920].

     (2) It shall extend to 4*[the whole of India], 5***.

2.
Definitions.

2.  Definitions.  - In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in
the subject or context,-

          "entry" means entry by water, land or air;

          "passport" means  a passport  for the  time being  in  force
          issued or renewed by the prescribed authority and satisfying
          the conditions prescribed relating to the class of passports
          to which it belongs; and

          "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

3.
Power to make rules.    

3. Power to make rules.-
(1) The Central Government may make rules
6* requiring that persons entering 7*[India] shall be in possession of
passports, and  for  all  matters  ancillary  or  incidental  to  that
purpose.

     (2) Without  prejudice to  the generality  of the foregoing power
such rules may-

          (a)  prohibit the  entry into  7*[India] or any part thereof
               of any  person who has not in his possession a passport
               issued to him;

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Extended to Sikkim (w.e.f.  20.9.1976) vide Notifn.  No.  S.  O.  3392,
dated 3.9.1976

1.  This Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications
    by Regulation 12 of 1962, s. 3 and Sch.; to Dadra and Nagar  Haveli
    by  Regulation  6  of  1963,  s.  2  and Sch.  I; and to Laccadive,
    Minicoy and Amindivi Islands by Regulation 8 of 1965, s.  3 and
Sch.
2.  Subs.  by Act 36 of 1949, s.  2, for "the Provinces of India".
3.  Subs.  by Act 15 of 1967, s.  25, for "the Indian Passport Act.
    1920".
4.  Subs.  by Act 36 of 1949, s.  3, for "all the Provinces of India".
5.  The words "excluding the State of Hyderabad" subs.  by the A.O.
    1950.  omitted by Act 3 of 1951, s.  3 and Sch.
6.  For Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, see Gazette of India,
    1950, Pt.  II, Sec.  3, p.  91.
7.  Subs.  by Act 36 of 1949, s.  4, for "Provinces".

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          (b)  prescribe the  authorities by  whom passports must have
               been issued  or renewed,  and the conditions with which
               they must comply, for the purposes of this Act; and

          (c)  provide for  the exemption, either absolutely or on any
               condition, of  any person  or class of persons from any
               provision of such rules.

     (3)  Rules   made  under   this  section  may  provide  that  any
contravention thereof  or of  any order  issued under the authority of
any such  rule shall  be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three months, or with fine or with both.

     (4) All  rules made  under this section shall be published in the
Official Gazette,  and shall  thereupon have  effect as  if enacted in
this Act.

     1*[(5) Every  rule made  under this Act shall be laid, as soon as
may be  after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is
in session,  for a  total period of thirty days which may be comprised
in one  session or  in two or more successive sessions, and if, before
the expiry  of the  session immediately  following the  session or the successive  sessions  aforesaid,  both  Houses  agree  in  making  any
modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not
be made,  the rule  shall thereafter have effect only in such modified
form or  be of  no effect,  as the  case may be; so, however, that any
such modification  or annulment  shall be  without  prejudice  to  the
validity of anything previously done under that rule.]

4.
Power of arrest.

    4. Power of arrest.-
(1) Any officer of police, not below the rank
of  a  sub-inspector,  and  any  officer  of  the  Customs  Department
empowered by  a general or special order of the 2*[Central Government]
in  this  behalf  may  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  who  has
contravened or  against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has
contravened any rule or order made under section 3.

     (2) Every  officer making  an arrest  under this  section  shall,
without unnecessary  delay, take  or send the person arrested before a
Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case or to the officer in charge
of the  nearest police-station and the provisions of section 61 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, (5 of 1898) shall, so far as may be,
apply in the case of any such arrest.

5.
Power of removal.

    5. Power  of removal. - The 2*[Central Government] may, by general
or special order, direct the removal of any person from 3*[India] who,
in contravention  of any  rule made  under section 3 prohibiting entry
into 3*[India]  without passport,  has entered  therein, and thereupon
any officer  of  the  Government  shall  have  all  reasonable  powers
necessary to enforce such direction.

6.
Application of Act to Part B States.

     4*6. [Application  of Act  to Part  B States.] Rep. by the Part B
States (Laws) Act, 1951 (3 of 1951), s. 3 and Sch.

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1.   Ins.  by Act 4 of 1986, s.2 and Sch.  (w.e.f.  15.5.1986)
2.   Subs. by the A.O. 1937 for "L.G".
3.   Subs. by Act 36 of 1949, s. 4, for "the Provinces".
4.   Ins. by s. 5, ibid.

Source: http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/PptEntryAct1920.pdf