Sikhs to have a separate law to register marriages soon

Chandigarh, kulbir kalsi:�The Sikhs should have a�separate law to register marriagesunder�the�Anand Marriage Act. The Act should be introduced with an amendment that would cut across geographical boundaries and enable Sikhs across the globe to get their marriages registered under the Anand Marriage Act.

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This was proposed by�Mr. Harpreet Singh Gharuan, Chairman, Legal and Human Rights Department,�Punjab�Pradesh Congress Committee,�here today, during�North Zone Lawyers� Conference�on the theme Legal & Electoral Reforms, held at the Law Auditorium of Panjab University.

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Mr Gharuan�was making a proposal for a demand to amend the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 to allow for registration of Sikh marriages to�Sh. Salman Khursheed, Union Minister for Law & Justice.�Mr Gharuan,�in his proposal, said: �At present, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains register marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Followers of these religions are even governed by Hindu Personal Laws like the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956; the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and the Hindu Succession Act.�

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In response to�Mr Harpreet Singh Gharuan�s�proposal,�Sh. Salman Khursheed, Union Minister for Law & Justice,�said all legislations towards making�a�separate law to register marriages�under�the�Anand Marriage Act have been approved by the Law Ministry. Approval for the same by the�Legal and Human Rights Department�is awaited. �We are sure, there Act will soon be implemented,� said the Law Minister.

Addressing the demand,�Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources�assured�full support to the demand of amendment to the Anand Marriage Act. We are looking at an amendment that would allow Sikhs across the globe to have their marriages registered under the act. The act will no longer be restricted to Sikhs in�Punjab.

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Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, MP, National Spokesperson AICC and Chairman, Legal and Human Rights Department, AICC,�also assured�Mr Harpreet Singh Gharuan�that the proposed�resolution�to amend the Anand Marriage Act�will be soon passed with thumping majority.