SHILLONG: The government will make necessary amendments to the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012, within the budget session, said Minister in charge Stamps and Registration M.M Danggo on Thursday.
Replying to a resolution here in the Assembly on Thursday, Danggo said the government is contemplating amendments to the Act and its rules after several churches, NGOs and the public petitioned on the need to amend certain clauses of the Act.
The minister said the government came up with the idea of introducing the Marriage Act to reduce cases of divorces.
According to Danggo, the Act was implemented after taking the opinion of stakeholders, NGOs, religious leaders and the public. Earlier while moving the resolution, UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh said the Act should be simplified and churches can facilitate and send the information about the registration and marriages to the authorities concerned after solemnisation.
UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh said the Act has taken away the rights of those who are authorised to perform marriages.
Both Lyngdoh and HSPDP member Ardent Basaiawmoit suggested that the government should seek church leaders’ suggestions for the new set of rules.
Church leaders were of the view that the State Act was intervening in the already existing central Act for Christian marriages.
Titosstarwell Chyne (UDP) said that when there is already a Central Act, the State Act loses its importance.
Others who took part in the discussion include HSPDP members KP Pangniang, and Diosstarness Jyndiang.
