AMANJOT SINGH CHADHA versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

AMANJOT SINGH CHADHA versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

The Court held that Section 6 imposes a mandatory duty on States and Union Territories to make rules for registration of Anand Karaj marriages and, to secure effective implementation, directed all respondents who have not yet notified rules to do so within four months; until rules are notified, registering authorities must receive and process Anand Karaj marriage registration applications under prevailing registration frameworks without discrimination and record the ceremony as Anand Karaj when requested; respondents with existing rules must clarify procedures within three months; every respondent must designate a Secretary-level Nodal Officer; the Union of India shall coordinate and...

Parties
Petitioner: Amanjot Singh Chadha; Respondents: Union of India & Ors.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
04 September 2025
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition (civil) No. 911 of 2022 Under Article 32 / Disposed
Outcome
Writ Petition disposed of
Legal Topics
Anand Marriage Act, 1909, Section 6, Registration of Marriage, Rule Making, Religious Marriage Recognition, Non Discrimination in Civil Registration
Constitutional Law Family Law Administrative Law Anand Marriage Act, 1909 Section 6 Registration of Marriage Rule Making Religious Marriage Recognition +1 more

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Parties

Amanjot Singh Chadha

Petitioner

Union of India & Ors.

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition (civil) No. 911 of 2022 Under Article 32 / Disposed

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Court should direct time-bound rule-making under Section 6 of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 to facilitate registration of Anand Karaj marriages
  2. 2 Whether, until such rules are notified, marriages solemnised by Anand Karaj must be received for registration under existing statutory arrangements without discrimination
  3. 3 Whether the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 should be extended to jurisdictions governed by special constitutional or statutory arrangements (notably Goa and Sikkim) and, if so, the process and timelines for rule-making

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held that Section 6 imposes a mandatory duty on States and Union Territories to make rules for registration of Anand Karaj marriages and, to secure effective implementation, directed all respondents who have not yet notified rules to do so within four months; until rules are notified, registering authorities must receive and process Anand Karaj marriage registration applications under prevailing registration frameworks without discrimination and record the ceremony as Anand Karaj when requested; respondents with existing rules must clarify procedures within three months; every respondent must designate a Secretary-level Nodal Officer; the Union of India shall coordinate and...

Court Disposition

Writ Petition disposed of

Orders

  • Every respondent that has not yet notified rules under Section 6 of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 shall do so within four months; the rules shall be published in the Official Gazette and laid before the State Legislature in terms of Section 6(4).
  • With immediate effect and until such rules are notified, each respondent shall ensure that marriages solemnised by Anand Karaj are received for registration under the prevailing marriage-registration framework without discrimination and, where parties so request, the certificate shall record that the marriage was...