Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, has stated that his administration will look into the possibility of enacting a law requiring parental consent for love marriages, but only if it is in accordance with constitutional standards. The idea was made in response to requests made by several influential Patidars in the state.
During an event hosted by the Sardar Patel Group in Mehsana on Sunday, the chief minister shared observations from his conversation with the health minister Rushikesh Patel.
Parental consent required
“Before I arrived, (cabinet minister) Rushikesh Patel advised me that we should examine the instances of girls eloping and conduct an extensive research with the goal of requiring parental approval for love marriages. We will conduct research and work to produce the greatest results we can if the Constitution permits it, Patel added.Congress MLA Imran Khedawala has come out in favor of requiring parental approval for love marriages.
“At a time when love marriages disregard parents, the government intends to establish a precise, constitutionally workable method… The CM has promised to have a study done on requiring parental consent. “My support is with the government if it introduces such a law in the assembly session,” he stated.
The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act
The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, which criminalizes forceful or dishonest religious conversion by marriage, was revised by the state government in 2021. If found guilty, a person might face up to 10 years in prison under the modified Act.
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Later, the Gujarat High Court delayed some controversial Act portions. This decision was contested in the Supreme Court, where a hearing is now pending.
In a March debate in the Gujarat assembly, BJP MLA Fatehsinh Chauhan stated that requiring parental consent would lower crime in the state and connected love marriages to criminal activity.
“Marriages that are solemnized without parental authorization increase the state’s crime rate. The crime rate might potentially drop by 50% if such weddings are registered with parental consent.
The existing practice of recording judicial marriages in districts other than the couple’s home frequently results in the hiding of documents, creating tragic circumstances where the girl suffers or the parents are compelled to take drastic actions, like suicide. Additionally, working parents may find it difficult to provide for their daughters, leaving them open to exploitation by opportunistic individuals who tempt them to run away.
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Geni Thakore, a Congress MLA, made a similar call to address the matter at the same session in the assembly. She emphasized the need to protect females from potential harm caused by boys who have criminal records or who are single and unable to find a spouse.
To ensure the safety of girls
“Our goal is not to prevent love weddings; rather, we want to make sure that females are not drawn into partnerships by boys who have a history of crime or who are desperate, as this could result in harassment and suffering for the girls involved. We suggest amending the law to require that registration of marriages take place in the girl’s taluka of residence, after the traditional marriage procession, and in the girl’s village. To protect her safety and wellbeing, witnesses should also come from her own area, Thakore added.
