Anand Marriage Act

11.07.2024

Anand Marriage Act

Why in the news?

Recently, the National Commission for Minorities held a meeting under the chairmanship of the Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, with 18 States/UTs to discuss the implementation and registration of marriages of Sikhs under Anand Marriage Act.

About Anand Marriage Act:

• It provides statutory recognition of marriage rituals of the Sikh community in India.
• The emergence of the Anand Marriage Act dates back to 1909 when the British Imperial Legislative Council passed legislation for the recognition of the Sikh wedding ceremony Anand Karaj.
• The Act aimed to acknowledge and respect the customs and practices of the community.
• In 2012, the Parliament passed the Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill, bringing Sikh traditional marriages under the purview of legal recognition.
• While the central government approved the amendments, it was left for individual states and union territories to frame respective rules for the registration of Anand marriages.
• Significance of the Act: It provides statutory recognition to marriage rituals of Sikhs, fulfilling their long-standing demand to not have to solemnize their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act.
• Recent implementation: 'Jammu and Kashmir Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2023' has been framed for the registration of "Anand marriages", under which tehsildars concerned shall be the registrar of such marriages within their respective territorial jurisdiction, as per a government notification issued.

Key facts about the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• It was established by the Union Government through the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992.
•  Initially, the government identified five religious communities Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis) as minority groups. Later, on January 27, 2014, Jains were also officially recognized as a minority community through a notification.
• The first statutory Commission was constituted in 1993. The Act does not define the term ‘minority’, but enables the Central Government to notify ‘minorities’ for the purposes of the Act.
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs is the Nodal ministry.

Functions of NCM

○ Evaluate the progress of the development of minorities under the Union/States.

○ Monitor the working of the constitutional and legal safeguards for minorities.

○ Recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards by centre/state.

○ Look into specific complaints regarding the deprivation of rights/safeguards of minorities.

○Cause studies wart problems arising out of discrimination against minorities.

                                                               Source: PIB

Ques :- Consider the following statements regarding the Anand Marriage Act:

Statement-I

 It provides statutory recognition to marriage rituals of Sikh community in India.

Statement-II

 Under this, States and Union territories frame respective rules for the registration of Anand marriages.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
3. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
4. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer A