Supreme Court Directs Registration of Sikh Anand Marriage

The Supreme Court of India has directed 17 states and eight Union Territories to frame rules for registering Sikh marriages under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, within four months. Until the rules are notified, states must continue to register Sikh marriages under existing laws. This landmark direction seeks to give legal recognition to Sikh marriages performed through the Anand Karaj ceremony, ensuring Sikh couples can obtain official certificates affirming their marital status.

Historical Background of the Anand Marriage Act

The Anand Marriage Act was passed in 1909 to formally recognise the Anand Karaj, a sacred Sikh marriage ceremony involving four circumambulations of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Act marked an important assertion of Sikh identity, distinguishing their marriages from Hindu rituals. However, the law originally lacked provisions for registration, making it more symbolic than practical.

Amendments and Delayed Implementation

The Anand Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2012, addressed this gap by adding Section 6, requiring states to frame rules for registration. Despite this legal mandate, most states and Union Territories failed to act for over a decade. This inaction left many Sikh couples dependent on the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, for registration, blurring their distinct religious identity and creating difficulties in legal matters like inheritance, succession, and maintenance.

The Supreme Court’s Intervention

Responding to petitions highlighting this neglect, the Supreme Court has now made it mandatory for states to establish registration mechanisms. It clarified that even in the absence of specific rules, no Sikh couple’s registration request can be denied. The Court stressed the importance of respecting both religious identity and civic equality, ensuring that Sikh marriages are legally recognised nationwide.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite this progress, the Anand Marriage Act remains limited, as it does not address divorce, separation, or other matrimonial disputes—issues currently governed by Hindu law for Sikhs. Community leaders have called for a more comprehensive legal framework that covers these aspects while safeguarding religious traditions.

Conclusion

The Court’s directive is a significant step in recognising Sikh marital identity, but a full-fledged marriage code for Sikhs may be necessary to provide clarity, dignity, and legal protection to the community.