SHILLONG: The State Assembly passed the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2017 without much discussion on the last day of the Budget session on Friday.
The amended Bill includes new definition clause to personal laws and new provisions–Section 3A and 3B – were added to the principal Act.
Section 3 (a) of the Act says that any marriage solemnized under various personal laws will be deemed to be taken under this Act, while section 3 (b) says that provisions of this Act will be applicable to parties to the marriage or in case if living together or cohabitation not covered by their respective personal laws.
The Government said that the amendments were necessary to give more clarity to the application of the principal Act to such parties to marriage not covered by the personal laws such as the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, the Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act.
A proviso was added to the Section 11 of the principal Act which says that “Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the marriage officer or license holder under the provisions of various personal laws shall also submit their returns periodically to the respective Registrars of Marriages for the purpose of this section as may be prescribed”.
For the existing Section 21 of the principal Act , a substitute is made which says, “The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of the existing personal laws in force.”
The House witnessed a short discussion on Friday before the passing of the amended act when Nongthymmai MLA Jemino Mawthoh asked the Government to simplify the rules of the Act.
In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister MM Danggo assured that the rules of the Act will be simplified and even suggestions will be considered while framing them.
The House had a detailed discussion on the Act last week and later the Government assured the Assembly of bringing certain amendments to the Act.
