- Parental Consent Made Essential
- Critics Question Privacy Safeguards
- Major Legal Shift
Article Today, Gujarat:
The Gujarat government has announced sweeping changes to marriage registration procedures, making the process significantly more stringent. The revised framework introduces mandatory parental involvement and extended verification timelines. Officials say the move is aimed at closing loopholes in the existing system. However, the changes have triggered debate over personal liberty and state intervention in private choices.
Government’s Justification
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi presented the amendments in the state assembly. He stated that the objective is to prevent exploitation of young women and to curb fraudulent or coerced marriages. According to him, certain groups have misused legal gaps to conduct deceptive unions. The government maintains that the reforms are preventive rather than restrictive.
Mandatory Parental Disclosure
Under the new provisions, couples must disclose full details of their parents while submitting a marriage application. Names, addresses, Aadhaar details and contact numbers are required. Authorities will notify parents within ten working days of receiving the application. Registration will proceed only after due verification. Officials argue that this step will discourage secret or rushed marriages.
Extended Waiting Period
The revised process also introduces a mandatory waiting period of 30 days before final registration. Applications will first be reviewed by an assistant registrar. Only after satisfaction at this level will the file move to the taluka authority. All records will be uploaded on a government portal. As a result, marriage registration may become slower and more documentation-heavy.
Privacy and Constitutional Concerns
However, civil rights advocates have raised concerns. They argue that compulsory parental notification may infringe on the right to privacy and adult autonomy. Marriage, they note, is a personal decision between consenting adults. Legal experts question whether extended state scrutiny aligns with constitutional protections. The debate has intensified as details of the amendments became public.
Political Undertones
During the announcement, Sanghavi also referred to concerns around so-called “love jihad,” describing it as a cultural threat. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has framed the amendments as necessary for safeguarding social order. Supporters within the assembly welcomed the reforms. They claimed that vulnerable women require stronger institutional protection.
Public Consultation Phase
Meanwhile, the state has opened a 30-day window for public feedback through the health and family welfare department’s website. Officials say suggestions and objections will be reviewed before final implementation. Whether the changes will withstand legal scrutiny remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Gujarat’s new framework has reignited a national conversation on the balance between social regulation and individual freedom.
