SRINAGAR: Sikh couples in Jammu and Kashmir can now register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act within three months of solemnisation.
If formalities are completed after the deadline, a late fee will be applicable, according to the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2023’. The rules, detailed by the administration, address a long-standing demand of Sikhs to have their marriages recognized independently of the Hindu Marriage Act.
The Anand Marriage Act, originating in 1909, gained statutory recognition for the Sikh wedding ceremony, Anand Karaj. It was a legislative move by the British Imperial Legislative Council to acknowledge and respect the customs of the Sikh community.
The Act received parliamentary attention in 2012 with the Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill, extending legal recognition to Sikh traditional marriages. While the central government approved the amendments, individual states and Union territories were tasked with framing rules for the registration of Anand marriages.
