Shillong, September 28: Maitshaphrang has alleged that the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012, has yet to be effectively implemented in the state, despite being enacted more than a decade ago.
The organisation met the Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSWC) on Monday to discuss the implementation of the Act, particularly provisions relating to the use of marriage certificates for official and government-related purposes.
Speaking to reporters, Maitshaphrang Convenor Michael N. Syiem said the original Act included provisions requiring married persons to produce marriage certificates for certain official purposes. He said an RTI response obtained by Maitshaphrang from government departments in 2016 indicated that the Act could not be properly implemented due to a lack of clarity over how its provisions were to be enforced.
Syiem further claimed that amendments introduced by the State Government in 2022 sought to remove the preamble and Section 3 of the Act. According to Maitshaphrang, the law therefore continues to remain largely on paper without effective practical implementation.
