By Muslim Mirror News
New Delhi: Reacting to the Delhi government decision of making marriage registration mandatory, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has said on Friday under the present circumstances making marriage registration is not an appropriate move as it will amount one more compulsion for marriage. Reiterating its stand, AIMPLB said in principle it is not against the registration of marriages and supported the idea since 1981when the issue was raised for the first time. However, Board is not in favour of making registration as a mandatory proof of nikah, he said.
In a letter sent to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jang, Board’s Compulsory Marriage Registration Committee convener, Dr S Q R Ilyas has stated Board’s position in this regard and asked him to take AIMPLB and other Muslim organizations into confidence before announcing any decision on the subject. He said marriage registration system has already been existed in one or another form in the Muslim society. Qazis, imams and other Muslim organizations which solemnized nikah (marriage) and maintain its record should be treated as registration in order to avoid any duplication and other hassles, he added.
The Delhi government may follow the model of West Bengal, Assam and, Andhra Pradesh where Waqf Board’s appoints Qazis for marriages and that is being registered with the respective waqf board and the Maharashtra government even delegated power to marriage hall owners to maintain marriage record, he stated.
He further stated in the letter, when the government prepares draft for the marriage registration form it should include Islamic process of marriage by mentioning names of witness, Maher and does and don’ts of nikahs.
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has approved an order in this regard stating that “Any marriage solemnized in Delhi between a man having completed 21 years and a woman of at least 18 years of age on the date of solemnization of the marriage, with at least one of them being an Indian citizen, will have to be compulsorily registered”.
Delhi Government’s Revenue Secretary Dharampal said registration of marriage within 60 days of tying the nuptial knot will soon be made mandatory in the Capital and its non-compliance will attract a fine of Rs. 1,000. He said a notification on compulsory marriage registration will be issued by next week to give effect to the decision. He stated that the Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 will be applicable to all marriages solemnized in Delhi irrespective of caste, creed and religion of the brides and grooms.
Dr Ilyas appealed to Lt Governor that he should take Shari`ah-Compliant of marriage into consideration while issuing any order in this regard.
