Anand Marriage Bill inserts 'Anand Karaj' into 1909 law

It aims to give these marriages evidentiary value and prevent the need for duplicate registration under other laws.

Who it concerns: Sikhs who solemnize marriages according to the Anand ceremony, State Governments (which must make rules for registration), and local authorities authorized by State Governments to keep Marriage Registers.

What the bill does

• Inserts the phrase '(commonly known as Anand Karaj)' into Section 2 of the principal Act.
• Inserts a new Section 6 requiring State Governments to make rules for registering Anand marriages in a Marriage Register.
• Specifies that the Marriage Register must be open for inspection at reasonable times and that certified extracts serve as evidence.
• States that the validity of a marriage is not affected if it is not registered.
• Requires rules made by the State Government to be laid before the State Legislature.
• Exempts parties whose marriage is registered under this Act from registering under the Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths Act, 1969 or other similar laws.

Also in the document

• The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on April 26, 2012.
• It amends an existing law from 1909 (Act 7 of 1909).
• The Statement of Objects and Reasons cites a 2007 proposal by the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee and various representations as the basis for the amendment.