Delhi: Register your marriage or pay Rs 1,000 penalty

New Delhi, Aug 2: Marriage without registration will now invite penalty of Rs 1,000. The Delhi government has cleared a draft Bill that will make marriage registration mandatory for all newly married couples in the capital. A penalty of 1000 bucks would have to be paid by those who do not register their marriage within 60 days.

A meeting of the Delhi cabinet presided by Shiela Dikshit approved the Bill which will now be sent to the Union home ministry for approval. Once cleared by the ministry, the Bill will be tabled in the Delhi Assembly. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have already made marriage registration compulsory.

In 2006, the court had observed women's pathetic condition after being deserted by husbands as they did not have any official document to show that the marriage had been solemnized. The draft Bill is being brought in to ensure that deserted women get financial help and custody of children from their estranged husbands . Couples who register under personal laws which provide for registration of marriages need not register again.

OneIndia News