The Gujarat government has proposed significant amendments to the Gujarat Marriage Registration Act, 2006, citing concerns over fraudulent marriages and the protection of young girls. The changes aim to make parental consent mandatory for all marriage registrations.

Key Highlights of the Amendment

1. Mandatory Parental Consent:
   Parents of both bride and groom will now receive official notification of marriage registration applications. Notifications will be sent electronically (WhatsApp) or physically within 10 working days after confirmation by the Assistant Registrar.

2. Preventing Identity Concealment:
   The government emphasized that if someone misrepresents their identity to deceive a girl—such as using a false name—they will face strict legal consequences. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi stated that the amendment seeks to protect the dignity of girls and uphold Sanatan Dharma.

3. Public Consultation:
   Citizens have been given 30 days to provide suggestions or feedback on the proposed changes. A committee will review the inputs before final implementation.

4. Dedicated Portal & Processing Time:
   A new portal for marriage registration will be created. Under the new rules, marriage registration will require at least 30 days to complete, ensuring proper verification.

5. "1523" data-end="1526"> The move follows demands from Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and reported instances of suspicious Nikah certificates in districts such as Panchmahal, Banaskantha, Navsari, and Mehsana.

Objective

The amendment is designed to protect young girls from deceitful marriages, ensure transparency in marriage registration, and strengthen parental involvement in the process. The government clarified that it does not oppose love marriages, but aims to prevent fraud and maintain social safeguards.