'Parental Consent': New Gujarat Marriage Rule Sparks Debate Over Privacy and Personal Choice

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has announced a new strange rule requiring couples to formally inform their parents before registering their marriage, a move the state says is aimed at preventing so-called “love jihad.”

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi told the Assembly that parental consent will now be mandatory for all marriages registered in the state, including love marriages.

Under the revised procedure couples applying for marriage registration must submit an affidavit stating that both families have been informed. The affidavit must include the parents’ names, addresses, Aadhaar details, and phone numbers.

The Assistant Registrar will notify the parents within 10 days of receiving the application. The application will then be forwarded to the Registrar and uploaded to the online portal. The marriage date will be confirmed after a mandatory 30-day period.

Addressing the Assembly, Sanghvi said instances of “love jihad” were occurring in Gujarat by exploiting perceived loopholes in existing marriage registration laws.

The announcement has sparked debate, with critics questioning the implications for personal choice and privacy, while the government maintains that the measure is intended to ensure transparency and protect vulnerable individuals.