Section14
The Emigration Act, 1983

Cancellation, suspension, etc., of a certificate

In force From 30 Dec 1983 Act 31 of 1983 As on 17 Oct 2026

Act 31 of 1983 Ministry External Affairs Enacted 10 Sep 1983 In force 30 Dec 1983 Cited by 2 provisions

Section 14 of the Emigration Act, 1983 deals with cancellation, suspension, etc., of a certificate. The registering authority may cancel any certificate on any one or more of the following grounds and on no other ground namely:-- (a) that having regard to the manner in which the holder of the certificate has carried on his business or any deterioration in his financial position, the facilities at The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1983.

(1) The registering authority may cancel any certificate on any one or more of the following grounds and on no other ground namely:--

(a) that having regard to the manner in which the holder of the certificate has carried on his business or any deterioration in his financial position, the facilities at his disposal for recruitment, the holder of the certificate is not a fit person to continue to hold the certificate;

(b) that the holder of the certificate has recruited emigrants for purposes prejudicial to the interests of India or for purposes contrary to public policy;

(c) that the holder of the certificate has, subsequent to the issue of the certificate, been convicted in India for any offence involving moral turpitude;

(d) that the holder of the certificate has, subsequent to the issue of the certificate, been convicted by a court in India for any offence under this Act, the Emigration Act, 1922 (7 of 1922), or any other law relating to passports, foreign exchange, drugs, narcotics or smuggling and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than six months;

(e) that the certificate has been issued or renewed on misrepresentation or suppression of any material fact;

(f) that the holder of the certificate has violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate;

(g) that in the opinion of the Central Government it is necessary in the interests of friendly relations of India with any foreign country or in the interests of the general public to cancel the certificate.

(2) Where the registering authority, for reasons to be recorded in writing, is satisfied that pending the consideration of the question of cancelling any certificate on any of the grounds mentioned in sub-section (1) it is necessary so to do, the registering authority may, by order in writing, suspend the operation of the certificate for such period not exceeding thirty days as may be specified in the order and require the holder of the certificate to show cause, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of such order, as to why the suspension of the certificate should not be extended till the determination of the question as to whether the registration should be cancelled.

(3) A court convicting a holder of a certificate for an offence under this Act may also cancel the certificate:

Provided that if the conviction is set aside in appeal or otherwise, the cancellation under sub-section (3) shall become void.

(4) An order of cancellation of a certificate may be made under sub-section (3) by an appellate court or by a court exercising its powers of revision.

(5) Before passing an order cancelling or suspending a certificate the registering authority or the court, as the case may be, shall consider the question as to the provisions and arrangements which should be made for safeguarding the interests of emigrants and other persons with whom the holder of the certificate had any transactions in the course of his business as recruiting agent and may make such orders (including orders permitting the holder of the certificate to continue to carry on his business with respect to all or any such emigrants and other persons) as it may consider necessary in this behalf.

(6) Where a certificate issued to any person has been cancelled under this section, such person shall not be eligible to make any application for another certificate under this Chapter until the expiry of a period of two years from the date of such cancellation.

Section 14, The Emigration Act, 1983 (Act 31 of 1983).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Baiju Y.P. v. Union of India

    High Court 11 Aug 2017 Persuasive (High Court) Reportable WA 1576/2017 (Kerala HC); Final Order 11.08.2017

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Emigration Act s.14(2) permits interim suspension of a recruiting-agent certificate pending cancellation inquiry (initially ≤30 days, extendable after show-cause); court declines to interfere with POE suspension jurisdiction while directing expeditious resolution. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2017-08-11 (order-1.pdf).

    On this section: s.14(2) interim suspension pending cancellation inquiry upheld.

    Read the full order on eCourts India

  2. M/s. Business Link v. Protector of Emigrants, Mumbai

    High Court 10 Sep 2012 Persuasive (High Court) Reportable WP 6538/2012 (Bombay HC); Final Order 10.09.2012

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Cancellation/non-renewal of recruiting-agent registration under Emigration Act ss.13/14 quashed for breach of natural justice where appellate authority relied on Ambassador/Attache reports not furnished to the agent and not forming the cancellation grounds. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2012-09-10 (order-2.pdf).

    On this section: s.14 cancellation of certificate — grounds actually used must be disclosed and heard.

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 14

What have the courts held on Section 14 of the Emigration Act?

Baiju Y.P. v. Union of India (11 Aug 2017) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.14(2) interim suspension pending cancellation inquiry upheld. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2012 to 2017.

How do I find court cases under Section 14 of the Emigration Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Emigration Act 1983 14, section 14 Emigration Act 1983, section 14 of the Emigration Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Baiju Y.P. v. Union of India (11 Aug 2017).

What should I read with Section 14 of the Emigration Act, and has it changed?

2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.

When did Section 14 of the Emigration Act come into force?

Section 14 of the Emigration Act, cited as Emigration Act 1983 14, came into force on 30 Dec 1983, having been enacted on 10 Sep 1983. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.