Travel agencies, consultants operating without licenses to face music of law: Chander Gaind
Ferozepur, June 24, 2019: District administration is soon going to launch a massive action against the unauthorized travel agents in the district, following which joint teams of the district administration and the police department will inspect the premises of travel agents, immigration consultants, ticketing agents, general sales agents and IELTS institutions. All unauthorized operating agencies without licenses will have to face the music of law, said Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind.
Unauthorized immigration consultants, travel-ticketing agents, IELTS institutes given 2-days time to apply for license to avoid action
DC asks immigration consultants, ticketing agents, IELTS institutes to apply for license within two days to avoid action
Joint teams of civil administration and police officials will soon inspect premises of travel agents
Divulging the details, the deputy commissioner said that there are only 61 travel agents have got themselves registered under The Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act 2014 so far and the list of these authorized travel agents in now available at the website of district administration Ferozepur i.e. https://ferozepur.nic.in. The deputy commissioner exhorted people only to consult with the registered agents mentioned in the list and beware of unauthorized agents. As per the inputs received the total number of travel agents is far more than that of registered agents, thus people must take the services of authorized agents only, said the Deputy Commissioner.
Giving a deadline, the Deputy Commissioner asked the unauthorized travel agents to file their applications for the grant of a license within two days or get ready to face stern action as a massive action drive against unregistered travel agents is going to began in the district.
Issuing a directive to the authorized travel agents, the deputy commissioner said that as per the guidelines issued by the state government the registered travel agents are bound to file the monthly account of their business to the district administration and the district administration has to conduct regular inspections at the premises of registered agents and check the authenticity of monthly accounts being submitted by the agents. He asked the authorized agents to ensure the monthly filling of their accounts so that the directive of the state government could be followed in its letter and spirit.
He asked the registered travel agents of the district to mention their license number in all kind of advertisement given by them in the media and also submit a copy of the advertisement to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur.
According to guidelines of The Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act 2014, all travel agents, immigration consultancies, ticketing agents, general sales agents, and IELTS institutions are bound to obtain a license for each category to run their business, said Gaind. Without a valid license, the whole business shall be considered illegal and the FIR will be lodged against the violators besides sealing of their premises, added deputy commissioner.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for the registration of travel agents in the district, especially in the wake of the rising number of fraud cases by agents, mostly with the rural folk. He called upon people to help district administration in eliminating this illegal practice by informing the administration about unauthorized travel agents.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the contraventions of the provisions of The Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act 2014 are punishable with rigorous imprisonment up to 7 years and a hefty penalty up to Rs. 5 lacs along with other sections of Indian Penal Code.
The Deputy Commissioner has directed all the SDMs of the district to initiate inspection and legal action against the illegal and unauthorized travel agents in their respective subdivisions and take police help during the inspection.