The Punjab government has okayed the Sikh Marriage Act, 2024 which will allow Sikh couples aged 18 and above to officially register their marriages and divorces.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Registrar and Marriage Rules, 2024 during a provincial cabinet meeting.
A Historic Day for Sikhs:
Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s first Sikh minister for minorities and human rights, appreciated the approval as a historic moment for the Sikh community.
He said that Sikhs from other provinces and countries can now travel to Punjab to register their marriages.
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Arora added that we are making efforts to present the Hindu Marriage Act for cabinet approval in the coming months.
Long-Awaited Approval:
Arora has been striving to get the Sikh Marriage Act approved since 2017.
He noted that the Punjab government is also working to remove hate material from school syllabuses and replacing it with content that promotes interfaith harmony and diversity.
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ญ: ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ซ๐
The Punjab government in Pakistan has approved the Sikh Marriage Act, effective immediately, to facilitate the Sikh community. Now, Sikh couples above 18 canโฆ pic.twitter.com/WSsUrm31M8
โ Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@SGPCPakistan) June 26, 2024
Key Provisions of the Act:
Under the Sikh Marriage Act, both the bride and groom must be at least 18 years old.
A five-member sangat will make recommendations on any issues between the couple.
The union council chairman, selected from the brideโs council, will oversee the marriage process.
Divorce Procedures:
In the case of divorce, the couple must send a written notice to the chairman.
A conciliation committee will be formed if the couple fails to reconcile within 90 days.
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If reconciliation is still not possible, a certificate of divorce will be issued.
Addressing Legal Issues:
The act aims to resolve several legal issues that arise from the non-registration of marriages, including the distribution of inherited assets.
