A proposal for making registration mandatory for all weddings, including those among Muslims, is under consideration of the Law Commission.
The proposal, prepared by Commission member Tahir Mahmood, suggests enactment of a central law making registration mandatory for all marriages in the country.
Mahmood said that his proposal, if approved by the Commission and accepted by the government, would be a big step towards making registration of all weddings compulsory.
The proposal assumes significance in the light of the Supreme Court's order last year on compulsory registration of marriages of couples belonging to all religions across the country.
The court had directed the states and union territories to frame necessary rules and reiterated that marriages should be compulsorily registered in respect of persons who are citizens of India even if they belonged to various religions.
The apex court had held that compulsory registration of marriages of all religions would be a step in the right direction for prevention of child marriage a practice still prevalent in many parts of the country.
The court had said that one way to curb the practice was to make it legally compulsory for all to register their marriage, mentioning their age at the time of wedlock.
Refusing to divulge details about his proposal that envisages everyone, including Muslim couples, to compulsorily register their marriages, Mahmood said, "The Commission is still seized of the matter."
He said he had also prepared draft reports suggesting changes in the Special Marriage Act of 1954 with a view to facilitating civil marriages among the Muslims.
As per the existing provisions, Muslims face difficulties while opting for civil marriages with cousins.
Mahmood, a former chairman of National Minorities Commission, said he has also prepared another draft report suggesting replacement of the old Shariat Application Act of 1937 and similar local laws by a new central act to be uniformly applicable to all Muslims throughout the country.
