Sikhs upset as center says no to separate Sikh Marriage Act.
Monday, August 29, 2011- New Delhi: Giving a big blow to Sikh aspirations about separate Sikh marriage act, the government has decided to drop the proposal for a separate law.
Sikhs, have long been fighting for amendments to the existing Anand Karaj (Marriage) Act of 1909 to convert it into a comprehensive legislation governing Sikh marriages.The Ministry of Law and Justice today said there was no justification for a separate law and it had decided to abandon the proposal for any such amendment.
Various political parties in Punjab were seeking changes in the Anand Karaj Act for Sikhs along the lines of similar acts for other religions (covering Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews).
At present, marriages amongst the Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and other communities except Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews, are covered by the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act provides for registration of Hindu marriages; Section 2 of the Act covers Sikh marriages.
The government justified the rejection of Sikh demand saying such seclusion would invite similar demands from others.