5,500 couples tie the nuptial knot in court in Pune
Pune: Around 5,500 couples got married in the court in the past one year in the backdrop of lavish spending on weddings one usually sees in society today.
Elaborate plans are made before a wedding. A big guest list is prepared and invitations are sent to all. However, awareness is growing among the youth and they are preferring a simple, inexpensive ‘court marriage’.
As a result, around 250 couples got married in the court per month last year. Marriage Officer Sangeeta Jadhav said, “Our office is in the Pune Railway Station Area. Marriages are registered in our office under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Around 5,500 such marriages were registered from January 2024 till date.
“The bride and the groom should be adults to complete a court marriage. That means the boy should be 21 years old or above while the girl should be 18 years old and above. All details related to a court marriage are available online. The regulations governing such a marriage are also given on the website. The registration is done after filling up the appropriate form.”
Awareness is growing
In 2023, 4,000 online and offline court marriages took place. While the number grew in 2024. Citizens prefer simple weddings, where money is not splurged. The awareness is growing, said Jadhav.
QR code on registration certificate
A QR code is printed on the Marriage Registration Certificate issued to a couple. After scanning the code, the entire certificate can be downloaded. There is no role of any agent in this process.
Marriage registration process
The entire marriage registration process is available online. Citizens belonging to any caste or religion can follow it. One can visit the government website and register a marriage. A ‘court marriage’ is organised under the guidance of the marriage officer. No rituals or customs are followed during such a marriage.
Details about necessary documents are provided on the website for a ‘court marriage’. After submitting an application, it is verified in four days and a notice is issued. Legal provisions mandate that the notice period should be one month. Later, the applicants can fix a date within seven days and register their marriage. The certificate is issued immediately after that, said Jadhav.
