Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has issued directives to all Departmental Commissioners for the statewide implementation of the Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act. The directive recognises Sikh marriage rites in the state and makes registration of Sikh marriages simpler.

The Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy and the 11-member Sikh Coordination Committee, Government of Maharashtra, had submitted a representation on February 6, 2025, to Ruchesh Jaivanshi, Secretary, Minority Development Department, requesting the implementation of the Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act and ensuring seamless registration and issuance of marriage certificates. In response, the Minority Development Department issued official directives on February 25, 2025, to the Departmental Commissioners of Maharashtra.

Sikhs said it was a historic move as the new rules ensured that there is no need for individual petitions to municipal bodies, making the registration of marriages simpler and seamless, and hassle-free issuance of marriage certificates.

The Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act recognises the Sikh wedding ceremony, Anand Karaj, as a legally valid marriage. Anand Karaj holds immense religious and cultural significance within the religion, said Sikhs. Originally passed in 1909 by the British Imperial Legislative Council, the Act gives legality and sanctity to the marriage ceremony among Sikhs.

In 2012, the Parliament passed the Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill, giving traditional Sikh marriages legal recognition, allowing them to register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act, aligning their legal status with their cultural identity and resolving a long-standing problem. However, while the Central Government enacted the amendments, individual states were tasked with formulating specific rules for registering the marriages.

"Due to the absence of such provisions in many states, Sikhs had to register their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act, despite their distinct religious identity. This was not liked by Sikhs," said Chembur resident Puran Singh Banga.

Maharashtra framed the rules in 2020 but did nothing to create a process for registration of such marriages. While the state issued a circular assigning municipal authorities to oversee registration, there has been no practical implementation, sometimes forcing couples to register under other legislations," said Bal Malkit Singh, executive chairman of Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy.

Expressing gratitude for the decision, Singh and Jaspal Singh Sidhu, convenor of the Sikh Coordination Committee, thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for fulfilling this long-pending demand. "We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Minority Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, for their swift and proactive response. This move will ensure a streamlined, efficient, and respectful process for Sikh marriage registration, recognizing the distinct religious identity of Sikhs.”