Government departments reluctant to implement marriage act: Syiem

SHILLONG: Michael Syiem, convener of Mait Shaphrang Movement (MSM), said almost all government departments have not implemented the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.
As per an RTI filed in all government departments, he said, “The Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012 has not been made mandatory in all departments of the state.”
He added that the term, “official purposes” has not been defined in the Act. Interestingly, even the Law Department which usually examines all government bills before placing in the cabinet for approval said the term “official purposes” has not been defined in the Act.
The Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012 had come into effect from October 5, 2015.
It may be mentioned that, the Act makes it mandatory for a married man and a woman to compulsorily furnish a marriage certificate for all official purposes.
The notification of the governor said that all government departments are mandated to ensure that individuals are made to submit the marriage certificate for any official purposes.