The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Central and Delhi governments regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) raising concerns over the lack of an adequate statutory framework for marriage registration in the national capital.
The petitioner, Akash Goel, challenged the constitutional validity of the Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014, which was enacted following the Supreme Court’s directions in Seema v. Ashwani Kumar to mandate marriage registration in Delhi.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the existing mechanism for marriage registration was insufficient and did not align with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The absence of a comprehensive law has resulted in an inadequate registration mechanism, causing difficulties for individuals seeking registration and failing to meet the Supreme Court’s mandate for compulsory registration,” the Court remarked.
Accordingly, the Court issued notices to the Central and Delhi governments, directing them to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives.
“We direct the concerned ministries of the Central and Delhi governments to examine the issue and take appropriate legal steps to implement the Supreme Court’s directions. The respondents are granted three months to file their responses,” the Court ordered.
