Author: Ashok Das
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: October 15, 2002
Cyber savvy Andhra Pradesh is all
set to enact a law making it compulsory to register all marriages. According
to the law, any marriage - be it a mere exchange of garlands, betrothal
conducted according to different customs, traditions, religions or even
remarriage - will have to be registered with authorities. Interestingly,
the legislation envisages punishment for an official if he fails to register
a marriage.
All marriages will have to be registered
with the local authorities, be it gram panchayats, municipalities or municipal
corporations. Failure to register the marriage will invite a fine up to
Rs 1000 and imprisonment up to one year. Any officer who fails to register
a marriage will be punished with imprisonment up to three months and fine
of Rs 500.
The legislation, AP Compulsory Registration
of Marriage Act 2002, was passed by the state Assembly in its budget session
and was referred to the Centre as the subject falls in the concurrent list.
The Act was envisaged earlier this
year after the state women's commission proposed legislation for compulsory
registration of marriages to deal with the menace of bigamy. The commission
felt bigamy by men was becoming difficult to prove, with women increasingly
falling prey.
The Act, the government hopes, will
put an end to incidents like a recent episode where three women fought
over the property of an IAS officer who died in harness. Each claimed to
be his wife, and wanted a share of his properties.
"It is very essential to register
the factum of marriage with the local authorities as is being done in cases
of births and deaths. (to give) a legal status to wedlock and strengthen
the institution of marriage, and is also conclusive proof of such marriages,"
a statement on the intents of the bill said.
