Delhi L-G gives nod to notify Anand Marriage Act for Sikhs

Sikh marriages in Delhi will now be registered under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act as Lt Governor Anil Baijal today gave his approval to notify the rules in the national capital, an official said today.

The official said that after the Anand Marriage Act rules are notified in a day or two, Sikhs would not be required to get their weddings registered under the Hindu Marriage Act.

“The Lt Governor has approved the file of Delhi government with regard to the implementation of Anand Marriage Act. The Delhi revenue department will now notify it,” said the official of the LG office who did not wish to be named.

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Anand Marriage Act is being implemented in Delhi almost 110 years after it was first demanded by the Sikh community.

“I am thankful to Lt Governor Anil Baijal for implementing this Act in Delhi as this was a long-standing demand of the Sikh community,” Sirsa, who represents the Rajouri Garden legislative constituency in the Assembly, said.

Sikh groups had maintained that members of the community used to face problems abroad as their certificates were issued under the Hindu Marriage Act.

The Anand Marriage Act was passed by the Centre, but it was yet to be implemented in Delhi.

Last month, Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot said that framing of provisions under the Anand Marriage Act is in the final stage.

In December, a Sikh community delegation, led by AAP legislators, had urged the Delhi government for the early implementation of the provisions of the Anand Marriage Act.