Supreme Court Directs States, UTs to Frame Rules for Registration of Sikh Marriages in 4 Months

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to frame rules for the registration of Sikh marriages (Anand Karaj) within four months.

This order came in response to a petition that highlighted the lack of a uniform registration mechanism.

The petition, filed by Amanjot Singh Chadha, argued that the absence of rules under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, created an unequal and discriminatory situation for Sikh couples.

The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta stated that "the State must not turn a citizen's faith into either a privilege or a handicap." Until the rules are in place, Anand Karaj marriages must be registered under existing laws without discrimination.

[Amanjot Singh Chadha v Union of India & Ors.]