Gujarat passes bill to make marriage registration compulsory

Gandhinagar, Mar 28 (UNI) THE Gujarat Assembly today passed a historic bill making registration of marriages compulsory.

For this, one would have to apply within a month after the marriage is solemnised.

Moving the Gujarat Marriage Registration Bill, 2006, in the House, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ashok Bhatt claimed the state has become the first state to pass such a bill, which would by itself take care of women's empowerment.

He said the state government believed that marriage is a sacred institution. In absence of a suitable law, it received a number of complaints from women of all religions such as Parsis, Christians, Muslims and Hindus about their exploitation.

He said the procedure would be as simple as birth or death registration and would be applicable throughout the state. The government will decide the registration fee shortly. It has a provision of Rs 1,000 penalty for late registration and a fine up to Rs 5,000 and one year's imprisonment for the defaulters.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Arjun Modhvadia also welcomed the Bill, but regretted the Congress members could not participate in the debate on the bill, as they had staged a walk-out to protest against the Gujarat Education Services Tribunal Bill.

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