Row over changes to Rajasthan’s marriage registration Act

New bill will legitimise child marriages, says Opposition BJP

A Bill to amend the Rajasthan Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2009, passed in the State Assembly, has generated a controversy with the Opposition BJP charging that it will validate child marriages. The Congress government has contended that the amended provisions will only streamline the registration process, without changing the status of nuptial ties of minors.

The Bill, passed last week, has sought to amend Sections 5 and 8 of the Act, dealing with the appointment of Marriage Registration Officers and the duty of parties to a marriage to submit the memorandum for registration. The amendment authorises the women above 18 years to provide information of their marriage on their own.

While the Act of 2009 stated that the parents or guardians of the bride and bridegroom were responsible to submit the memorandum if both the boy and the girl had not completed the age of 21 years, the latest amendment reduces the age of bride to 18 years for casting the duty on parents to report about the marriage to the Registration Officer within 30 days of the union.