What is Anand Marriage Act 1911
Is it any amendment over Anand Marriage Act 1909?
Hello Savneet Kaur,
Anand Marriage Act, 1909 was originally introduced in India, which legalized the Sikh Marriage Ceremony of Anand Karaj by Guru Amar Das meaning 'Blissful Union' or 'Joyful Union'. Although, the ceremony is now governed by the Sikh code of conduct and conventions known as Sikh Reht Maryada that was issued by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).
The Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir and this Act seeks to give statutory recognition to a marriage rite of the sikhs called 'Anand’. Thus, any marriage performed according to the 'Anand' ceremony is valid with effect from the date of its solemnization.
There are two exemption of certain marriages to this act :-
- any marriage between persons not professing the Sikh religion, or
- any marriage which has been judicially declared to be null and void.
However, the Anand Marriage (Amendment) Bill was passed by India in 2012, after which Sikhs were able to register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act where the then President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil gave her assent to pass this bill.
I hope I clarified your query.
