Marriages in court premises
The increasing number of marriages in court premises taking place in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, has forced the government to take a major decision. The Local Government and Community Development Department has issued a notification formally banning the registration of marriage certificates (marriage contracts) of marriages performed in court premises in Union Councils (UCs). This decision has been taken to check the increasing number of marriage registrations in and around courts, which has several social and legal reasons behind it.
New government order
The notification issued by the local government clearly states that from now on, no marriage certificate of marriages performed in court premises will be acceptable for official registration in all union councils of Rawalpindi district. The move is aimed at controlling the increasing number of marriages taking place in court premises, which has increased exponentially in the last two years.
This decision not only affects the legal and social aspects of marriages, but is also an attempt to protect the reputation of the courts so that they focus only on legal cases and not interfere in matrimonial matters.
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Reasons for the ban
The ban is actually a result of the fact that the number of marriages in courts has increased rapidly in the last few years, especially those involving women who run away from their homes and marry the spouse of their choice. These marriages are often performed in the premises of the courts, i.e., by the marriage registrar there, whose aim is to legally recognize the marriage.
This increasing number of marriages indicates that many women run away from their homes due to domestic or social pressure to marry the person of their choice. Many of these women started their new lives after obtaining Khula (judicial divorce). Most of these marriages are from Rawalpindi and other cities like Jhang, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Lahore.
Instructions for Nikah Registrars and UC Secretaries
According to the new government order, Union Council Secretaries and Nikah Registrars have been warned not to get involved in any attempt to register Nikah names of marriages performed within the court premises. If they violate this order, strict legal action will be taken against them.
Possible actions against them include criminal prosecution, arrest, administrative fines, and cancellation of the Nikah Registrar’s license. In addition, the violating government employees can also be dismissed from their jobs.
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Post-ban situation
This notification will be applicable to all 182 Union Councils and Tehsil Councils of Rawalpindi district. An official circular has been issued to the registrars and supervisory staff of these councils, informing them of a complete ban on registration of marriages within the court premises.
Along with this, this move will change the process of registration of marriages in and around the courts. This will not only improve the legal process but will also focus on the real responsibility of the courts.
Number of love marriages and runaway women
The courts have witnessed a phenomenal increase in love marriages in recent years. According to the data from January 1 to September 30, 2023, 1,594 women – whether unmarried or already married – ran away from their homes and reached the courts to marry the woman of their choice. Many of these women belonged to areas outside Rawalpindi, such as Jhang, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Gujranwala, and Lahore.
This number shows that a large number of these women turned to the courts to get relief from their domestic problems and social pressures. As a result, the government institutions needed to take more steps to prevent the registration of these marriages.
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