Gujarat plans to amend the Gujarat Marriage Registration Act 2006 and overhaul the marriage registration system to make parental involvement central to the process, especially in cases where the couple has run away, the Hindustan Times reported.
“There is no objection to love. But if some Salim impersonating Suresh imprisons a girl, we will not spare them,” Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi was quoted as saying by HT.
He made the announcement in the state assembly on Friday, adding that the government has no objection to “true love marriages” but will act against fraud and exploitation.
Under current rules introduced in 2006, couples who elope can register their marriage by submitting basic documents and witness details to the local registrar or talati-cum-mantri without having to inform their parents.
What could change under the new rules?
– Under the draft rules, couples applying for marriage registration would have to apply in person to an assistant registrar and declare whether they have informed their parents.
– Couples would also be required to provide their parents’ names, addresses, Aadhaar details and contact information. Once the assistant registrar has verified the request, parents will be notified within 10 working days.
– The application would then be forwarded to the district or taluk registrar who would register the marriage after verifying compliance with the rules.
Under the proposal, the marriage certificate would be issued 40 days after the application, allowing time for verification or objections.
For interfaith or civil marriages, the Special Marriage Act of 1954 will continue to apply. It requires a 30-day public notice before the ceremony, but does not require parental consent for adults, the HT report said.
The state has opened a 30-day public consultation window on the draft rules, after which the committee will review feedback before finalizing it.
The changes will only come into effect after the consultation process and official notification have been completed.
If the new rules come into effect, Gujarat would become the first state to mandate formal parental notification for all marriage registrations.
