The Jammu and Kashmir administration has introduced detailed rules for the registration of marriages under the Anand Marriage Act, addressing a longstanding demand of Sikhs to have their marriage rituals recognized separately from the Hindu Marriage Act.
The newly framed ‘Jammu and Kashmir Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2023’ designate tehsildars as registrars for Anand marriages within their territorial jurisdiction.
Sikh couples can apply for registration within three months of marriage, with a late fee applicable after the deadline.
The move has been hailed by the Sikh community, ending an identity crisis caused by the absence of a distinct Sikh marriage act.
Dating back to 1909, the Anand Marriage Act aimed to acknowledge and honor Sikh wedding customs. In 2012, the Parliament amended the Act for legal recognition of Sikh traditional marriages.
While the amendments were approved by the central government, states and Union territories were tasked with formulating specific rules for Anand marriage registration.