Registration of marriages within 60 days to be made compulsory

Circular expected to be issued by Wednesday, violators to be fined up to Rs 1,000.

If you have just got married and haven’t registered your marriage yet, you should better do it soon. From next week, it will be mandatory for all couples who got married in the city to register themselves in 60 days. Failure to do so will attract a fine.

HT Image

A proposal to make registration of marriages mandatory has been prepared by the revenue department and sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval, Delhi government officials said.

As per the new proposal, couples applying for registration more than two months after marriage are liable to be fined. Those failing to register their marriage within 60 days will be fined up to Rs 1,000.

Those who furnish false statements will be fined and well as imprisoned.

Currently, marriage registration is not mandatory in the city.

“The Supreme Court questioned the delay over making registration of marriages mandatory in Delhi. Following this, we prepared a proposal which was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor. Once we receive the nod from him, a circular will be issued by Wednesday,” said Dharam Pal, revenue secretary, Delhi government.

The Delhi government had a few years ago drafted the Delhi Marriage Registration Bill, which was not cleared by the Delhi assembly.

The bill later lapsed as the assembly was put under suspended animation.

The government will also augment its existing infrastructure as all district offices will be burdened with marriage registration applications aftet it is made compulsory. Sources said the department may rope in retired personnel, who will be empowered to register marriages in the city.

“The department is yet to work out whether it will be mandatory for all the couples to be physically present while getting the registration done. As earlier, when the draft was sent to the home ministry, it was pointed out that the registration process should be people friendly and hence if all the documents are properly attested and meet all criteria, couples may not be required to be physically present at the spot,” said a Delhi government official.

Currently, couples who do register their marriage either submit applications manually or fix an appointment online to meet the marriage registrars to find out about the procedures and the documents that are required to be filled.

The sources further said that in case a marriage takes place outside the country, but one of the couple is from Delhi, even then the wedding can be registered in the city.

“Marriages that have taken place before will also have to be registered once the circular is issued by the revenue department. However, they will be given sufficient time to get it done and will not be fined. It will also ensure justice to women deserted by their husbands. These women find it difficult to get maintenance and rights over property and even children,” said a senior Delhi government official.