SHILLONG: Following a meeting with a delegation of Church leaders over the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012 and its rules approved in 2015, the KHADC CEM has directed the council’s Law department to examine the Act.
The CEM has directed the concerned department to study the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Christian Marriage) Act, 1954 and the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.
“The department will in turn give suggestion to the Executive Committee,” Syiem said.
Syiem said that according to United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Christian Marriage) Act, 1954 which was adopted from the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the pastor is the marriage registrar.
“As per the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Christian Marriage) Act, 1954, pastors should submit a copy of the marriage certificate to the district council for keeping records of the union solemnized in the churches,” he said.
Church leaders were concerned that despite marriages being solemnised in the church the married couple will have to register themselves again under the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.
