LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the landmark Sikh Marriage Bill regulating the marriages of the Sikh community in the province. According to reports, Pakistan has become the first country to pass a law regulating marriages of the Sikh community. The act states that no male or female of the Sikh community below the age of 18 years can solemnise marriages under the law. It also upholds that all marriages between Sikh persons, whether solemnised before or after this law is passed, shall be registered with the relevant union council. According to the bill, the Punjab government will grant licences to Sikh community persons as Anand Karaj Registrar with authority to grant Anand Karaj certificate to brides and grooms who will fill the ‘Anand Karaj Form’ within next 30 days after the marriage ceremonies. Also a copy of the form will be sent to the local union council chairman. On the violation to register the marriage, some punishment with the fine which may extend to Rs 10,000 will also be given. As per the new law, any party that wishes to dissolve the marriage shall give to the union council Chairman a notice in writing or his or her intention to do so, supplying a copy to the other party and the union council chairman will constitute an arbitration council within 30 days for reconciliation between the couple. If they do not agree after lapse of 90 days, the chairman will declare the marriage to have been dissolved by issuing certificate of it. Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana will sign the bill into a law within next 14 days as per the rules and then the Anand Marriage Act 1909 of British era would be repealed. The bill was tabled by provincial minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora in 2017 and was signed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif last week. The passing of the bill has effectively repealed the Anand Marraige Act, 1909 that was passed by the British. He paid tribute to the treasury and opposition benches for not opposing and passing it unanimously. Punjab law minister, opposition leader and other members congratulated the Sikh community for the passage of the landmark bill. It is worth mentioning that when the bill was passed, some of the representatives of the foreign Sikh community from Canada were also observing the proceedings of the Punjab Assembly from Speaker’s Gallery who were later also offered tea in the committee room. Published in Daily Times, March 15th 2018.