STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, Oct 7: The long awaited Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriages Rules, 2015 has been notified by the State Government.
In a notification issued on Thurday vide ERTS(R) 7/2011/366, the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps Department stated, “As per provision under the Rules, the Registrars of Marriages have also been duly appointed for East and West Khasi Hills Districts, East and West Jaintia Hills Districts, Ri Bhoi District, East and West Garo Hills Districts and Mairang and Sohra Civil Sub-Divisions. Registrar of Marriages for the remaining Districts and Sub Divisions will be notified in due course.”
Under the rules, the parties to a marriage solemnized after the October 5 are to submit a memorandum (application form costing Rs. 10 as registration fee are available with the Registrar of Marriage in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of the Districts) along with their passport size photographs to the Registrar of Marriage within a period of 60 days from the date of solemnization of marriage. However, the Act does not debar the registration of such marriages which were solemnized before October 5, 2015.
Upon completion, the Registrar of Marriage shall issue a certificate of Registration of Marriage, free of cost, to the parties of marriage as proof of registration.
Marriages solemnized after October 5, 2015 in respect of which no memorandum of registration is filed within 60 days of its solemnization shall be liable to pay a fine of Rs. 100 for each month’s delay after 60 days up to 120 days, and Rs. 50 subject to a maximum of Rs. 1000 for each month’s delay after 120 days.
The Government notification has come as a shot in the arm for the Mait Shaphrang Movement, an organization that has long been fighting for compulsory registration of marriage to check the uccounted broken homes and single parenting in the Khasi society.