Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 28: Sikh Progressive Front has outrightly rejected 2023 Anand Marriage Act and Rules and denounced the penalty clauses.
Talking to media person, here today, Balvinder Singh along with Surinder Singh Wazir, Manjit Singh Bali, Rajinder Singh Sudan and Tejinder Singh, expressed deep disappointment over the JKUT administration’s handling of the Anand Marriage Act.
They criticized the administration for failing to place the draft rules for public review and feedback, unlike the neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh, which released the draft for Public input twice – on June 20, 2023 and again on January 23, 2024.
Balvinder Singh pointed out several shortcomings in the current draft, particularly concerning the hefty fees and penalties imposed for marriage registration. He emphasized that Sikh marriages are currently registered under the Hindu Marriage Act free of charge. However, rules of Anand Marriage Act, notified vide S.O 597, Dated 30th November, 2023, by the JKUT administration, not only introduces an initial registration Court Stamp fee but also includes severe penalty clauses, which he described as highly objectionable and discriminatory.
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