Chandigarh, March 12
Recognising the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, the Punjab Assembly today passed the Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill-2008, thus paving the way for the registration of marriages solemnised in the state under the Anand Marriage Act-1909.
However, the Bill was passed in the absence of leader of the House Parkash Singh Badal as well as leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Interestingly, the Bill was passed without any discussion as the Opposition had staged a walkout on another Bill related to the mode of election of panchayats.
Earlier, marriages in Punjab were registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Though the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, was in statute books, but it was not operative in Punjab. Interestingly, the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, was extended to the new provinces and merged states by the Merged States (Laws) Act, 1949, and to the union territories in 1950 and Manipur and Tripura in 1956. The Act was brought into force in Meghalaya on January 21, 1972.
The Bill has been passed on the directions of the Supreme Court with regard to the compulsory registration of all sorts of marriages across the country. In the statement of objects and reasons, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, justice minister, who presented the Bill, said it would help deal with hardships being faced by women in Punjab regarding matrimonial disputes and to check bigamy, polygamy etc.
Under the provisions made in the Bill, there will be a chief registrar of marriages having jurisdiction over Punjab. He will also be the chief executive authority for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act. The government will appoint a district registrar of marriage in each district and such number of additional district registrars of Marriages.
After the date of commencement of this Bill as Act, every marriage solemnised in the state will have to be registered, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. There is also a provision for the registration of marriages before the commencement of this Act.
If the marriage is already registered in any other part of the country, it will not be registered again Punjab. A marriage will be registered within 90 days of its solemnising but not after six months. Any marriage of which delayed information is given
to the registrar after expiry of six months but within one year of
occurrence, will be registered only with the written permission of prescribed authority. Marriage not registered within one year, will only be registered after that with the permission of chief registrar of marriage. There is also provision of punishment up to one year and fine in case of violations of provisions made in the Bill. After the Bill becomes an Act, the government will frame rules under it.
