All the Deputy Commissioners in Punjab have been directed to ensure implementation of Anand Marriage Act in the state and Sikh marriages must be registered under the Act.
The directions were issued by the state Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi after the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa has taken up the matter with the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Sirsa had informed the Chief Minister that marriages of the members of Sikh community are not being registered under the Act in the state whereas many states including Haryana have already implemented the Act.
The Chief Minister then directed the ACS Home to ensure its implementation in the state of Punjab.
In a letter written to the DCs of the districts in the state, the ACS Home said that the State Government has taken serious note of the fact that after receiving applications for registration of marriages under the Anand Marriage Act, these were being registered under the Hindu Marriage Act which is legally not right.
He said that the Punjab Government has already enacted and implemented ‘The Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2016’ and they have been implemented by Governance Reforms Department through e-District application.
He directed the DCs to implement these strictly and ensure that no complaint is received in future.