The National Commission for Minorities wrote several times to the current and previous Punjab Government to implement the Anand Marriage Act and frame marriage registration rules for Sikhs under it. Surprisingly, a State where Sikhs are in majority does not have the ‘Anand Marriage Act’ in place for the last 140 years, though the Act was formulated in 1909. NCM Chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura said that they have written to the current Government regarding the Anand Marriage Act but the Punjab Government never replied on this so far.
The commission has been receiving representations regarding the non-implementation of Anand Marriage Act in different states in the country due to which Sikhs are facing problems in registering their marriage. Lalpura shared that soon Chandigarh is going to implement ‘Anand Marriage Act’ and he has discussion with Chandigarh Administration concerning other issues like State Minority Commission, Loan to Minorities. Lalpura added further that the Commission has also written to different state governments to implement the Anand Marriage Act in their respective territories.
The Chairperson further pointed out that the Act was passed in 1909. However, no rule has been framed. In 2012, it was amended adding the word ‘Karaj’ (which literally means ‘work’ but may refer to Sikh marriage ceremony when written with ‘Anand’) to it. In an official statement, the commission said the majority of Sikhs live in Punjab, however, the state government of Punjab has never made rules so far. So far, only a proforma for the issue of marriage certificate has been framed. The National Commission for Minorities has therefore requested all state governments, including Punjab to implement Anand Marriage Act. As per the Commission, it has been found that governments of Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have issued notifications and guidelines for the implementation of Anand Marriage Act in their respective states.
The commission also has written to Punjab to form State Minority Commission but as usual Punjab Government did not pay heed to reply, said Lalpura. Further Lalpura stated that Chandigarh also does not have State minority commission along with Goa, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. Chandigarh Administration is asked to form the State Minority Commission and implement it as soon as possible. While talking on the rights of Minorities, Lalpura added that the Government of India is on to give Rs 20 Lakh Loan to minorities on minimal rate of interest.
