Sikhs get a separate marriage law in Pakistan

Despite being a microscopic minority, the Sikhs of Pakistan can now boast of something which has eluded their Indian counterparts since 1980 — a separate law for registering Sikh marriages. On Tuesday, the Pakistani Cabinet approved an ordinance recommending Constitutional status for a Sikh marriage.

On the other hand, in India, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee wondered why the Indian Government is still silent about a similar request. "We put the request of the Anand Marriage Act before the Indian Government for the first time in 1980. Till today, it has fallen on deaf ears. When India got its first Sikh Prime Minister in Manmohan Singh, our hopes surged, only to be disappointed. Recently, the Supreme Court ordered that all marriages be legally registered. In the wake of this ruling, Sikhs demand a separate identity from Hindus, especially in matters of marriage, adoption and divorce. We have requested the Government again after Pakistan took the lead. Let's hope something positive comes out of this," said Paramjit Singh Saran, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.

In the absence of a separate law for registering their marriages, the Sikh community has had to register under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. "The antiquated Anand Marriage Act, 1909 doesn't address issues like divorce, adoption and alimony. So Sikhs have to accept the courts' rulings under the Hindu Marriage Act, which we feel, is not fair," Sarna added.

Pakistan's Minister for Law Syed Afzal Haider announced on Tuesday that once President Pervez Musharraf returns from Davos, he will endorse the ordinance and it would become operational. In all, 27 federal ministers, including caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro singed the ordinance. The Pakistan Government has specified five places: Nankana Sahib, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore for solemnising Sikh marriages.

The response to this regulation will reflect on Baisakhi, to be celebrated on April 13, when hundreds of Sikhs from the world over will converge at Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) to solemnise their marriage.

Frontline comments:

The Indian government has and always will treat Sikhs as second class citizens.