The Rajya Sabha, on 13 August, passed a bill making registration of marriages, irrespective of religion, mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Bill (amendment) 2012. However, the marriages already registered under the Anand Marriage Act, state laws or any other existing law are not required to be registered again under the Bill. The Muslim community leaders welcomed the move with some provisions. “This is a welcome move by the government,” said Dr.Zafarul-Islam Khan, president All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat. However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board working committee member Dr. Ilyas stated that the registration of marriages should be optional and not mandatory due to social and legal reasons. “A large chunk of our population lives in rural areas where facilities for registration are hard to come by…Besides, Muslim marriages are solemnised by a Qazi or Imam and the Government should have a provision to recognise the Nikahnama issued by the Qazi or the Imam.”
BILL PASSED TO MAKE MARRIAGE REGISTRATION MANDATORY
The Rajya Sabha, on 13 August, passed a bill making registration of marriages, irrespective of religion, mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Bill (amendment) 2012. However, the marriages already registered under the Anand Marriage Act, state laws or any other existing law are not required to be registered again under the Bill.
