Marriage Registration: A Global Overview and recommendations of Law Commission in 2017 for Compulsory registration

Abstract

Since independence, numerous initiatives have been taken to address the issue of gender inequality. Reform initiatives taken so far have succeeded to a large extent, however, child marriages, bigamy and gender violence continue to persist in our society, despite legislations prohibiting and penalising such practices.1 Several disputes are pending before the courts regarding matrimonial status of the parties.2 Women are often denied the status of wife due to absence of record proving a valid marriage. The courts have time and again emphasised on making registration of marriage compulsory, to prevent denial of status to women and to children born out of wedlock.