The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Obligatory wedding registration soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 29, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Obligatory wedding registration soon

N.J. Nair

Executive order now, law to be framed later

Consensus eludes talks with religious representatives
Apex court orders legislation within three months

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marriage registration will be made compulsory for members of all religions in the State. The government will soon publish an executive order as a precursor to piloting a comprehensive Bill in the Assembly within three months.

As discussions held with representatives of all religions for framing legislation failed to evolve a consensus, the government is understood to have decided to go ahead with the proposal to issue the order first and then frame the law in compliance with a Supreme Court order.

The court had directed all State governments to frame suitable legislation within three months to make registration of marriages compulsory. A Bench, headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat, had directed the State governments to file a compliance report, along with an affidavit, after the deadline. The order was passed on noting that several States had made marriage registration compulsory only for Hindus.

Law Department sources told The Hindu that the compulsory registration would not upset the system being practised by various religions. All of them would continue to enjoy the freedom to follow the existing registration system, but along with that, they would have to register marriages officially.

The compulsory registration system was being considered one of the prime steps for protecting the rights of women. The decision was not aimed at creating communal discord, but to give maximum protection to the rights of weaker sections of society, sources said.

Moreover, marriage certificates issued by local self-government institutions (LSGIs) are imperative for those planning to migrate. Since consulates of foreign countries do not entertain the certificates issued by heads of religious institutions, couples who apply for visa have to submit fresh applications to the civic chiefs for marriage certificates. Securing marriage certificates from LSGIs is an arduous task. Computerisation of records in LSGIs has not yet been completed. In the absence of proper documents, the applicants are forced to wait endlessly for getting the certificates and many have to risk their opportunity to migrate. The new registration system is expected to be a solution to such problems. In the wake of the apex court order, the government has no options but complete the process within three months, sources said.

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