From 2014, no marriage registry without Aadhaar card in Jharkhand

Marriages may be made in heaven, but legal sanctity for such heavenly union in Jharkhand will be reserved only for those with Aadhaar cards from 2014.

Taking a cue from New Delhi, Jharkhand has made possession of Aadhaar mandatory for registration of marriages from January 1 next year.

What’s more, even those who appear as witnesses for the registration need to have the card which has a 12 digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.

Saheb Siddiqui, assistant registrar general of the department of registration, said, “A circular making Aadhaar mandatory for legal confirmation of marriages was issued to the districts on June 21.”

Marriages solemnised on or before December 31, 2013, will not need the Aadhaar card for the registry.

Vaibhav Mani, marriage registrar at the Ranchi civil court said, “Under the new stipulation, a marriage in 2014 will not be registered without Aadhaar, even if the bride, groom and witnesses furnish the identity proof acceptable now.”

Accordingly, driving licences, passports, PAN cards, photo I-cards of central/state government, passbooks of banks and post offices, Kisan Credit Cards, SC/ST/OBC certificates, handicapped certificates, arms licences, NREGA job cards and pension books will have the power to be sufficient for registration of holy matrimonies only till December 31, 2013.