KERALA MAKES MARRIAGE REGISTRATION COMPULSORY

The Kerala government has decided to make registration of marriages compulsory in the state. This decision was taken by the state cabinet on January 23 after reaching an agreement with leaders of different religious communities. The Supreme Court, in October last, had asked states to bring legislation within three months to make marriage registration compulsory. Though the leaders of the Muslim community had strongly opposed the idea initially, they agreed to it after discussions with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthananandan. Their major objection was that compulsory registration before a government official would make the marriage un-Islamic as they insisted marriages could only be held before a qazi. However, the chief minister found a way around this by agreeing to give legal validity to certificates issued by Mohalla Committees. In turn, the Muslim leaders agreed to register the marriage before the concerned local body official.