To protect wives from unscrupulous husbands, Delhi Cabinet has approved the Delhi Registration of Marriages Bill 2012 draft, which would make registration of marriages in Delhi mandatory.
Non-registration of marriages would invoke a fine up to Rs 10,000.
As per the new Act, every marriage in Delhi should be registered within a period of 60 days from the date of marriage. After two months, the parties concerned would have to pay late fees as prescribed by the government.
At present, there is no such law making marriage registration compulsory in the country.
It has been seen that many times unscrupulous husbands deny having married leaving their wives in a lurch be it for seeking maintenance, custody of children or inheritance of property. Sources in the government said, most of the marriages have no official record, as hardly a few of marriages are registered.
Registration of marriage would take place in the office of the Registrar of Marriages in whose jurisdiction either the husband or wife resides or in whose jurisdiction the marriage is solemnised. Meanwhile, in special circumstances, a couple may even authorise their parents for registration of their marriages, provided documentation of the paperwork is in order.
Recently, Supreme Court ruled that all marriages should be registered in order to prevent child marriages, bigamy or polygamy and help women to exercise their right to maintenance from husband and custody of children as well as enable widows to claim inheritance. Earlier, city government had sent the draft bill to Union Home Ministry for approval following which the ministry had suggested further simplification of the procedure.
Non-registration of marriages would invoke a fine up to Rs 10,000.
As per the new Act, every marriage in Delhi should be registered within a period of 60 days from the date of marriage. After two months, the parties concerned would have to pay late fees as prescribed by the government.
At present, there is no such law making marriage registration compulsory in the country.
It has been seen that many times unscrupulous husbands deny having married leaving their wives in a lurch be it for seeking maintenance, custody of children or inheritance of property. Sources in the government said, most of the marriages have no official record, as hardly a few of marriages are registered.
Registration of marriage would take place in the office of the Registrar of Marriages in whose jurisdiction either the husband or wife resides or in whose jurisdiction the marriage is solemnised. Meanwhile, in special circumstances, a couple may even authorise their parents for registration of their marriages, provided documentation of the paperwork is in order.
Recently, Supreme Court ruled that all marriages should be registered in order to prevent child marriages, bigamy or polygamy and help women to exercise their right to maintenance from husband and custody of children as well as enable widows to claim inheritance. Earlier, city government had sent the draft bill to Union Home Ministry for approval following which the ministry had suggested further simplification of the procedure.