Tie the nuptial knot over a pot of money
Marriages may be made in heaven but its beginning at the registration offices is anything but blissful.
Consider the experience of this newly-wed pair in Noida. The couple had to pay a bribe of Rs 15,0000 to get the marriage registered in a registrar office in their town. The office, which initially said inter-religious marriages could not be registered, put the seal on the marriage after money changed hands, one of the duo informs us (http://ipaidabribe.com/bribe-central/marriage-registration-16).
Apart from the official network, a small network of touts operate outside the office, who collect some commission for bring the couple to the office and educating them on the right steps to be followed inside!
With all the right intentions in mind, the Delhi Cabinet on May 21 made registration of marriages compulsory within 60 days of the wedding date. Penalty for violating this rule has been fixed at Rs 10,000. A Bill in this connection is likely to be introduced in the Assembly too in the first week of June. This will definitely emerge as another option to demand bribes by officials from the late birds who rush in for registration.
A radical announcement by the Union Cabinet last month (on April 10) did away with the need to disclose one’s religious identity at the time of registration of marriage.
Definitely sweet news for the inter-religious couple, who cared to write to us, and many inter-faith bondings.
(By Manisha Yadav)