The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has introduced stringent new rules that make marriage a deeply verifiable process. Designed to combat increasing cases of fraudulent unions, trafficking, and runaway marriages conducted without parental knowledge, the reforms introduce a series of mandates that now make the presence of family, the officiant, and video documentation non-negotiable.
The move comes following a critical directive by the Allahabad High Court in the case of Shanidev vs State of Uttar Pradesh, where the court examined over 150 cases of elopement-style marriages that had bypassed both familial consent and legal scrutiny. The court’s scathing remarks on how such marriages could be exploited for trafficking, coercion, and exploitation pushed the state machinery into immediate action.
The new norms in detail
As per the new circular issued by the Inspector General of Stamps, the following rules are now in force for all marriage registrations in Uttar Pradesh:
- At least one immediate family member (parent, sibling, grandparent, or adult child) of either the bride or groom must be physically present at the time of registration.
- If the marriage occurs without familial involvement, the priest, Qazi, or pastor who solemnised the union must appear in person before the registrar to verify the ceremony.
- Submission of full video footage of the wedding is compulsory, to be provided in a pen drive.
- A sworn affidavit from both bride and groom affirming mutual consent and authenticity of the marriage is now mandatory.
- The marriage must be registered only in the district where either the bride’s or groom’s family has a permanent address, backed by valid ID and proof of residence.
- Certificates for marriages registered without parental consent will bear a special seal marking the union as having undergone “special scrutiny” under new protocols.
The overhaul follows alarming reports from multiple districts—especially Ghaziabad—about institutions like Arya Samaj Mandir Trusts facilitating marriages using forged documents, or bypassing legal requirements entirely. In 2024 alone, at least five FIRs were filed in Ghaziabad on such counts. Investigations revealed that these sham marriages were being used as a cover for human trafficking, fake conversions, or illegitimate property claims.
Moreover, several couples who eloped were later found to be underage, coerced, or misinformed, triggering massive concern in both legal and law enforcement circles.
The real turning point was the Shanidev case, where the court stated in no uncertain terms that the State had failed to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly women, by allowing unregulated, unverified marriages. In many cases, families had no knowledge of their daughter or son being married until a marriage certificate surfaced post-factum. The court warned this loophole could be exploited by anti-social elements, especially in inter-faith or inter-caste unions, often conducted under false identities or coercion.
The court further noted that some so-called “legal unions” had even been used to enable trafficking networks in border districts, prompting urgent intervention.
Senior government officials stress that the move is about security and legal accountability, not control. “This isn’t about banning elopements or love marriages,” clarified an official from the Registrar’s office. “It’s about ensuring that those who choose to marry without family support are not exploited by unscrupulous actors.”
The reforms are designed to protect vulnerable individuals, ensure legal documentation is genuine, and reduce the burden on the judiciary and police dealing with marital disputes rooted in fraud or coercion.
The Ghaziabad Sub-Registrar’s office, among the first to enforce the new rules, has already issued public notices and restructured its registry protocols. A dedicated register has been created for marriages registered under “special scrutiny,” and couples must book appointments only if they can fulfil the new conditions.
“Random walk-ins without valid documents or family presence will not be entertained anymore,” said Rahul Shukla, the Sub-Registrar of Ghaziabad.
