New Delhi: Delhi has become first state of the country to implement the Anand Marriage Act for registration of Sikh marriages, thus fulfilling a 100 year old demand of Sikh community. A norification in this regard is expected next week.
Chandigarh: Delhi has become first state of the country to implement the Anand Marriage Act for registration of Sikh marriages, thus fulfilling a 100 year old demand of Sikh community. A norification in this regard is expected next week.
The Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) and BJP who ruled Sikh dominated state Punjab for ten years had however failed to implement the act in the state even though it became an Act in 2012. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal faced flak by Sikhs for ignoring the act despite being head of a Panthic party. It is understood that Akali Dal didn't implement the act under pressure from alliance partnert BJP.
It was long standing demand of the Sikh community to register Sikh marriages under the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 passed by the British Imperial (i.e. Governor-General`s) Legislative Council to establish legal "validity of the marriage ceremony common among the Sikhs called Anand Karaj.
In 2012, when Dr.Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, the Parliament passed The Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill, after which Sikhs are able to register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. The then President of India Pratibha Patil had given her consent to the bill same year.
The LG office has reportedly sent the approval to the Anand Marriage Act to Delhi Government and Secretary Law department is expected to process the file in next few days before a notification is issued.
ABOUT ANAND MARRIAGE ACT 1909
Anand Marriage Act was passed in 1909 by the British Imperial (i.e. Governor-General`s) Legislative Council to establish legal "validity of the marriage ceremony common among the SIKHS called Anand."
