Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has moved to amend the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006, making parental consent compulsory for marriage registration. The decision has triggered sharp debate over adult rights, constitutional guarantees and the future of interfaith and intercaste marriages.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi announced the changes during the ongoing assembly session. Under the new procedure, bride and groom must submit a declaration stating they have informed their parents. They must also provide identity proof, phone numbers and residential details of their parents. The government argues the step aims to prevent misuse of marriage registration by anti social elements and to address concerns raised under the term love jihad.
Senior advocates have raised objections. They argue that the amendment restricts the autonomy of adults and undermines the agency of women. Social scientist Ghanshyam Shah stated that the Constitution grants adults full freedom to choose their partners. He warned that such measures risk pushing society toward regressive norms.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the right of adults to marry by choice. In Laxmibai Chandaragi versus State of Karnataka in 2021, the court ruled that family or community consent is not required once two adults agree to marry. Earlier judgments in Shafi Jahan versus K M Ashokan and Lata Singh versus State of Uttar Pradesh reinforced protection for interfaith and intercaste couples.
The debate has widened as opposition leaders in Gujarat have expressed support for the amendment. With the matter likely to face legal scrutiny, the state now stands at the centre of a national conversation on personal liberty and constitutional rights.
