SHILLONG, MAR 24: The Assembly today passed the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to ensure that the provision is also applicable to parties not covered by their personal laws.
“These amendments are necessary so as to give more clarity to the application of the principal Act to such parties to marriage not covered by the personal laws,” Minister in-charge Stamps and Registration Martin M Danggo said.
He also said that the provisions of the amendment Bill are in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of the existing personal laws in force.
The personal laws include the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, the Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 and others.
He said the proposed Bill also includes new definition clause (cc) to Section 2 namely (cc) personal laws.
The minister also informed that new provisions – Sections 3A and 3B are proposed to be added to the principal Act.
Section 3A stated that any marriage solemnized under various personal laws shall be deemed to be taken under the Act.
On the other hand, Section 3B ensure that the provision of the Act is applicable to parties to the marriage or in case of living together or cohabitation not covered by their respective personal laws.
Moreover, Section 11 of the amendment Bill also directed the ‘Marriage Officer’ or ‘License holder’ under the provisions of various personal laws to submit their returns periodically to the respective Registrar of Marriages.
It may be mentioned here the state government has decided to come up with the amendment Bill following demand from several quarters including opposition members on the need to simplify the process of registration of marriage.
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