SHILLONG: Mait Shaphrang Movement convener Michael Syiem has said that the proposed amendment to the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2015 should not tamper with the compulsorily registration of marriages.
Syiem asserted the MSM will resort to legal action if the “essence of the Act is altered or touched”.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday Syiem said, “The intention of the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2015 is to solve the problem of broken marriages. Support of MLAs from both the ruling and opposition shows that the problem is very severe in the State. In a matrilineal society, it is very easy to walk out of a marriage.” Citing the Supreme Court order of 2006-2007 that all marriages should be registered irrespective of religion, Syiem said those questioning the Act cannot claim to be sole representatives of the Christians in the State.
He was pointing to the church leaders who have filed a writ petition in the High Court, challenging the validity of the Act.
“They cannot say they represent all the churches. Other churches did not express their opposition to the Act,” he said.
Stressing the need for registration of marriages irrespective of religion, Syiem said that the Catholic Church after solemnizing marriage would give a form to the newly married couples so that they can send it duly filled to the registrar of marriages for registration, while other Churches would direct the couples to fill the forms which will be forwarded to the registrar of marriages by the Church authorities.
“However, the problem is that the Church fills the registration form not in triplicate as one is given to the married couple, and the other is kept for themselves , but the third copy is not handed over to the Government registrar or the District Councils,” Syiem said.
Refuting the Pastors’ stand that there is a Central Act of Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, he said, “There are five states– Maharashtra, Gujarat, , Karnakata, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, that have their own acts.”
Three pastors- Seinborly Diengngan, Thanlijoy Diengdoh, Nongpyndeng and P. Gleamland Khongsdir, have sought the court’s intervention into the matter.
