Sikh couples can now register their marriages under Anand Marriage Act

NEW DELHI: Sikh couples in Delhi will now have a separate Act to register their marriages.

The Delhi government on Friday notified the Delhi Anand Marriages Registration Rules, 2018, under which Sikh marriages will be registered instead of the Hindu Marriage Act.

Announcing the notification, which came a week after L-G Anil Baijal’s approval, revenue minister Kailash Gahlot said the rules will ensure protection of the rights of the Sikhs. “With notification of the Delhi Anand Marriages Registration Rules, the government has fulfilled a long pending demand of the Sikh community,” he said.

The minister added that those who have marriage certificate under the Hindu Marriage Act will also get the chance to get it changed. This can be done at the deputy commissioner or district magistrate’s office near the applicant’s residence.

At present, Sikh couples in Delhi had to get their marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. An amendment to the Anand Marriage Act which recognises Sikh weddings was notified by the Centre in 2012. But, implementation of this Act, named after the Sikh wedding ceremony called ‘Anand Karaj’, had been pending in Delhi as respective state governments had to notify the rules.

“The Act has been implemented in Delhi almost 110 years after it was first demanded by the Sikh community. We had several meeting to discuss the modalities of the rules over the past four months. I am glad that the government has finally notified it,” said disqualified Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh.

BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the step will benefit Sikhs who travel to other countries. “The rules will help the Sikhs when they apply for a visa. Right now, many from the community face issues as their passports mention Sikhism as the religion, but their marriage certificates have Hindu Marriage Act written on them,” he said.