Registration of marriages now compulsory in Uttar Pradesh
What's the story
It is now compulsory for UP residents to register their marriage irrespective of community or religion. The Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules 2017 has also fixed penalties for delay in registration- Rs. 10 for delays up to a year and Rs. 50 after that. Apart from approaching the stamps and registration department, people can also register online, for which facilities would be launched soon.
Law
SC had made registration compulsory in 2006
Though the SC had mandated registration of marriages as far back as 2006, UP was one of the few states that hadn't yet implemented the rule. The earlier Samajwadi Party government had kept in on hold due to objection from the Muslim community. Community leaders said the nikahnama already contains all relevant details, so it should be treated as a substitute for marriage certificate.
Information
Law passed despite opposition from Muslim clerics
This time too, the law faced objection by some Muslim clerics who protested providing photos of the couple (the nikahnama doesn't carry photos). "But if photographs can be submitted to procure documents like Aadhaar, why not for marriage registration," said Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh.