Sikh community in Mumbai want separate law for marriage

Kulwant Singh, vice president, Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mumbai, said that changes in marriage law in one part of the country is not justified.

With the Delhi government set to notify rules for Sikh marriages, the community in Mumbai too wants a separate marriage law on grounds that Sikhism is a separate religion.

The community in Mumbai too wants a separate marriage law on grounds that Sikhism is a separate religion. (HT File)

Kulwant Singh, vice president, Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mumbai, said that the community has been backing demands by the committees in Amritsar and Delhi.Thus, changes in marriage law in one part of the country is not justified.

“If I have relatives staying in Delhi, they will be called Sikhs, while we will still be registered under the Hindu marriage law. The Maharashtra government too needs to make provisions for us,” said Singh.

The Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Parliament in the budget session of 2012, and received the President’s assent the same year.

Jagmohan Singh, a human rights activist from Ludhiana, said that though the bill was passed by the central government, various state governments need to make provision for the execution.

“Under Article 25 (B) of the Indian constitution, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains are all construed as Hindus. We are a separate religion from Hinduism, which is why we have been demanding a separate marriage act,” said Jagmohan.