RTI reveals: Bureaucratic apathy delays justice for Anand Marriage Registration Rules 2023  

Jammu: Balvinder Singh, renowned RTI Activist and Vice President of DGPC Jammu, has exposed the sheer indifference of the JKUT administration in addressing glaring deficiencies in the newly notified Anand Marriage Registration rules vide S.O 597, dated 30th Nov 2023, notified by JKUT Administration under during LG’s regime. Despite repeated representations, the administration has failed to rectify discriminatory provisions that unfairly penalize Sikh marriages.

Singh, alongside S. Surjeet Singh, Secretary DGPC Jammu, submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner Secretary of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs (JKUT) vide No. DGPCJ/386/2024 dated 28.11.2024, demanding urgent amendments. The new rules not only introduce an unjustifiable court stamp fee of Rs.1,500, but also enforce a draconian penalty clause  for delayed registration which Balvinder has termed discriminatory and unjustifiable.  As per new rules introduced in the yar 2023, there is a provision of basic court stamp fee of Rs.1500 at the time of registration and a penalty of Rs. 200 for submission of registration after three months but within six months post-solemnization, penalty of Rs.3000 for submission after six months but within one year and penalty of Rs.5000 for submission beyond one year post-solemnization. In contrast, under the Ladakh Anand Marriage Act, section 6(i) of Chapter II stipulates only a basic fee of Rs. 500 for submitting a memorandum for registration, without any penalty for delayed registration.

Balvinder further stated that  the Hindu Marriage Act – under which many Sikhs currently register their marriages – imposes neither a basic court fee nor any penalty. This stark inconsistency raises serious concerns about the intent behind burdening Anand Marriage registrations with additional fees..

After more than five months of inaction, Singh was compelled to file an RTI to investigate the status of their representation. The reply revealed disturbing insights: instead of addressing the blatant disparity, the Finance Department had prioritized calculating potential revenue loss if these unfair fees be reduced. On 19.05.2025, all Deputy Commissioners of JKUT were asked to assess the financial impact of correcting this injustice—proving that fiscal greed, rather than fairness, dictates policy making in JKUT.

Singh condemned this outrageous bureaucratic shielding, stating, “The administration is more concerned about revenue figures than justice. When Sikh marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act require neither a court fee nor penalty, why has JKUT imposed arbitrary charges on the Anand Marriage Act? It is nothing less than institutional bias against our community.”

Frustrated by bureaucratic stalling, Singh has now escalated the matter to Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who oversees both the Finance and Law Ministries. Mr Singh sought immediate intervention  of HCM for  removal of these discriminatory clauses. The government must act now to uphold justice and fairness rather than shielding arbitrary policies under fiscal excuses.