Punjab assembly passes marriage registeration bill

Chandigarh, Mar 12 (UNI) The Punjab assembly today passed the Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill which permits registeration of marriages even under the Anand Marriage Act 1909.

According to the bill, besides the Anand Marriage Act, marriages can also be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, Indian Christian Marriage Act, Muslim Personel Law or any other custom or personel law relating to marriages.

A number of Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had for long been demanding that legal sanction should be given to the Anand Marriage Act as it had been prevalent prior to independence. Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj had recently given an assurance in the Rajya Sabha to former Minorities Commission Chairman and House member Tirlochan Singh of giving due recognition to the Anand Marriage Act.

The Bill provides for the compulsory registeration of marriages solemnised under any law governing the parties irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. The Bill calls for appointment of Chief Registrar of Marriages and District Registrars of Marriages.

The Bill was introduced in the house by Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur and was later passed by voice vote.

According to the clauses of the Bill, the Chief Registrar of Marriages shall have the jurisdiction of the entire state and would be vested with the revelvant powers. The Chief Registrar shall have the powers to issue directions to all concerend to coordinate and assist in the working of registeration of marriages.

The Bill clearly states that for a marriage to be registered the bridegroom and the bride should have attained the age of 21 years and 18 years respectively. The marriage between the parties would only be registered after the registering officer is satisfied with the attached documents with the marriage registeration form.

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