Registration of marriages without family’s consent made tougher in UP

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has changed the rules governing registration of marriages solemnised without the consent of the family making the presence of at least one member of the family or the priest, who has performed the rituals at the time of registration.

According to sources, a circular in this regard was issued by the concerned authorities.

The new rules make the presence of a pandit, Qazi or priest mandatory during the registration if the marriage was solemnised against the wish of the family.

The priest will have to submit an affidavit and may also be asked to depose before the registrar if required.

The couple, marrying against the wishes of the family, will also have to submit a pen drive containing the video of their marriage as proof, sources said. The marriage certificate issued by the registrar will bear a special stamp stating that the documents have been verified and authenticated.

Another important change in the registration of marriage was that such marriages could be registered only in the districts where the parents of either the bride or the groom lived permanently.

Sources said that the changes were brought about following a recent order of the Allahabad High Court in a case. The court had directed the state government to make changes in the rules of registration of marriage to check incidents of fraud in the registration.

In the past there were cases of marriages being solemnised at Arya Samaj temples and certificates were issued though they had no authority to do so.