Sikh marriages in Delhi can now be registered under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act, with the Delhi government on Friday notifying the provisions of the new Act. As per the notification, the Anand Marriage Act will be registered with the Registrar under whose jurisdiction the marriage is solemnised or either the party resides.

“Delhi Govt notifies The Delhi Anand Marriages Rules, 2018. Long pending demand of the Sikh community fulfilled. Our govt is committed to work for protection of rights of all communities (sic),” Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted. The registration fee under the Anand Marriage Act is Rs 500. The Anand Marriage Act was passed by the Centre, but it was yet to be implemented in Delhi.

Taking to a micro-blogging site Twitter, Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot said it was a long pending demand of the Sikh community. “Delhi Govt notifies The Delhi Anand Marriages Rules, 2018. Long pending demand of the Sikh community fulfilled. Our govt is committed to work for protection of rights of all communities,” Gahlot tweeted.

On 2 February, Lt Governor Anil Baijal had approved the file of Delhi government with regard to the implementation of Anand Marriage Act. Sikh groups had said the members of the community used to face problems abroad as their certificates were issued under the Hindu Marriage Act. Although the Anand Marriage Law was enacted in 1909, there was no provision for registration of marriages and they were registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

Welcoming the move, the AAP legislator Jarnail Singh said it was 110 year long pending demand of Sikh community to implement the Anand Marriage Act. “I have raised the issue in 2015 when the Aam Aadmi Party government was formed. It was a long-pending demand of the Sikh community,” Singh said.

Singh said even though in 2012, it was published as corresponding Act in the Gazette of India, but it was yet to be implemented in the capital. Singh, who represents Tilak Nagar constituency, said after coming to power in 2015, the AAP government raised the issue and after many deliberations, “today the Act was finally notified”.

Calling it a great day for the sikh community, Singh criticised previous Delhi governments for not taking any steps for notifying the Act. In December, a Sikh community delegation, led by AAP legislators, had urged the Delhi government for the early implementation of the provisions of the Anand Marriage Act.