Explanation:

Rajasthan Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) Act, 2010 was brought in 2010, with twin fold objective to boost tourism in the state and to prevent misbehaviour with tourists.

However, there were certain lacunae in the legislation that rendered it toothless and the authorities unclear about the use and implementation of the new law.

An amendment bill was passed in the state assembly recently to insert a new section 27-A in the Rajasthan Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) Act, 2010.

Misbehaviour with tourists will now be a cognizable offence in Rajasthan and a non-bailable one if repeated.

According to Section 27-A, all the offences punishable under the Act shall be cognisable and bailable: provided that the offences punishable under sub- section (3) and sub-section (4) of Section 13 of the Act shall be cognisable and non-bailable.

Section 13 (3) declares that whoever commits a subsequent offence of touting shall be arrested without warrant by police and, on conviction, be punished with rigorous imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ? 30,000 or both.

Similarly, Section 13 (4) lays down that whoever, habitually engages in the practice of touting even after having been punished more than once, shall be arrested without warrant by police and punished on conviction with rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine up to ? 1 lakh or both.