Marriage registration a must,Bill approved by Cabinet

“The law provides for imposition of a penalty of up to Rs 10,000 on people who don’t get their marriage registered. Couples should apply for registration within 60 days of marriage,” a senior official said.

Marriages are mostly solemnised through religious rituals with no official record,a government official said,at times leaving couples,mostly women,vulnerable to exploitation later.

“Registration will prevent child marriage,check bigamy or polygamy and help women exercise their right of maintenance and custody of children and enable widows to claim inheritance,” the official said.

Couples will have to apply at the office of the Registrar of Marriages in their area and will have to pay a late fee if they apply later than 60 days after marriage,said the official.

“The Bill envisages registration of all marriages,be it under the Hindu Marriage Act,the Special Marriage Act or any other Act or marriage solemnised as per any traditional manner,” the official said.

The law will make registration mandatory for marriages where either of the couple or both are Delhi residents,irrespective of whether the marriage was performed in Delhi or outside,the official said.