Supreme Court Directs States to Register Sikh Marriages Within Four Months

The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to frame and notify rules for registering Sikh marriages under the Anand Karaj Act within a four-month deadline. The bench emphasized that despite the Act being enacted in 2012, several states continue to register Sikh marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act.

The order was passed on a plea filed by Uttarakhand-based lawyer Amanjot Chaddha, who had repeatedly approached the state government for notification of rules under the Anand Karaj Act.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta highlighted that the Act “imposes a positive duty on every state government to create a workable registration machinery for Anand Karaj marriages. That duty is not contingent on the size of the beneficiary group in any jurisdiction, nor can it be deferred on the footing that other marriage laws exist in parallel.”

Marriages in India are typically registered under the Special Marriage Act for interreligious unions. However, Chaddha pointed out that rules for registering marriages under the Anand Karaj Act have not been notified in several states. Additionally, implementation of the Act has not yet been extended to Sikkim and Goa, where specific provisions require the Centre to issue notifications.

The court further noted the importance of registration, stating, “A marriage certificate enables proof of status for residence, maintenance, inheritance, insurance, succession, and the enforcement of monogamy. It particularly safeguards the interests of women and children who rely on documentary proof for legal protection.”

The Supreme Court emphasized that uneven access to marriage registration creates unequal outcomes for citizens. The judgment underscores that Sikh marriages must be recorded and certified on the same legal footing as other marriages, ensuring civic equality while respecting religious identity.

Some states had argued that Sikh marriages could be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act due to the relatively small Sikh population and requested more time to create and notify specific rules.