Better late than never. In a move steeped in cultural affirmation and legal recognition, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has finally implemented the much-awaited Anand Marriage Act, by making rules thereunder for the registration of Anand Karaj -Sikh marriages, marking a significant triumph for the Sikh community. This development not only ushers in a new era of legal identity for Sikh marriages in Jammu & Kashmir but also addresses a historical demand for religious and cultural autonomy.
It is another story that the move is being perceived as an attempt to appease the Sikhs, soon after the Article 370 Judgement by the Supreme Court of India.
It also remains to be seen whether this will become implementable immediately or whether there will be administrative glitches as are seen in many other states for which J & K Sikhs will have to wage another struggle. WSN reports.

The ‘Jammu and Kashmir Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2023’, as per the latest government notification, now provide a legal framework for the registration of Sikh marriages, known as Anand Marriages, solemnized through Sikh marriage ceremony -Anand Karaj. This is a monumental step away from the erstwhile necessity of registering Sikh marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act, thereby rectifying a long-standing issue of cultural misalignment.

Under these new rules, tehsildars -district revenue officers, in their respective territorial jurisdictions will serve as registrars for Anand Marriages.

Sikh couples are required to register their marriages within three months of the wedding ceremony. However, a late fee will be levied if they fail to meet this deadline, as stipulated by the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs in their November 30 notification.

This is the culmination of a persistent struggle by the Sikh community, who have long sought recognition of their distinct marriage rituals. Vikramjeet Singh, chairman of the pro-BJP, National Sikh Front, emphasized that the realization of this demand became feasible following the abrogation of Article 370. He highlighted the community’s tireless efforts in lobbying for the Act’s implementation, noting that Jammu and Kashmir had been an exception until now.

Sikh couples in Jammu and Kashmir are required to register their marriages within three months of their Anand Karaj -Sikh wedding ceremony.

The origins of the Anand Marriage Act trace back to 1909 when the British Imperial Legislative Council recognized the Sikh wedding ceremony, Anand Karaj. The Act’s primary goal was to respect and acknowledge the unique customs of the Sikh community. Despite the passing of the Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill in 2012, which brought Sikh traditional marriages under legal recognition, the Act’s implementation in Jammu and Kashmir remained pending until now.

Surinder Singh of the Jammu Kashmir Sikh Coordination Committee has welcomed this move by the J&K administration.

While the implementation of the Anand Marriage Act in Jammu and Kashmir is a testament to the relentless advocacy of the Sikh community, it is significant to ask why it has taken so much time to do so. Furthermore, it is not lost on the Sikhs that it has come soon after the judgment on Article 370 by the apex court in India.

Another striking feature is that there are many more long pending demands of the Sikh minority in Jammu and Kashmir, which are being ignored by the Jammu & Kashmir government and those calling the shots there.

Speaking to The World Sikh News, Jagmohan Singh Raina, Chairperson of the All Party Sikh Coordination Committee said, “This move is only a drop in the ocean of demands of the Sikh community of J & K. While the Pandharpur Commission, the CBI had probed the death of one innocent person after the Chittisingpura massacre, despite our meeting with the Defence Minister of India -Rajnath Singh, there has been no proper enquiry into the Chittisinghpura massacre.”

Ironically, the Kashmiri Pandits get reservation of 2 seats in the J&K Assembly, whereas the tiny minority of Sikhs have been denied reservation,” he added.