16 registrars appointed to register Hindu, Sikh marriages

SUKKUR:

Sixteen marriage registrars have been appointed to register the marriages of Hindu and Sikh communities under the Hindus Marriage Act 2018.

These registrars were awarded certificates at a ceremony organised by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) at its Sukkur office on Saturday. Attendees at the event included SHRC Board Member Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani and Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Raja Mohammad Bakhsh Deharejo, who gave away the certificates to the participants.

The implementation of the Sindh Hindus Marriage Act marks an important milestone, as for the first time in Sindh's history, pundits from minority communities have been officially recognised as marriage registrars. This is crucial for the registration of marriages within the large Hindu population of Sindh.

On the occasion, Hemnani expressed satisfaction with the SHRC's efforts, highlighting the proactive measures taken to implement this important legislation. He acknowledged the extensive engagement with local government agencies, the women development department, social welfare, and civil society across Sindh. "These efforts culminated in the successful registration of marriage registrars in Sukkur," he added.

Hemnani also announced plans to extend the registration of marriage registrars to other districts in Sindh, prioritising areas with larger populations of minority communities. "Effective implementation of the laws like the Sindh Hindus Marriage Act 2018 is essential to protecting the fundamental rights of these communities," he said.

The Hindu Marriage Amendment Act 2018 represents a crucial framework for legal marriages within the Hindu community. The certified marriage registrars will play an instrumental role in upholding these legal standards, ensuring that marriages are properly registered and recognised, thereby safeguarding the rights and interests of minority communities.