The Allahabad High Court has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government over delays in implementing its directions aimed at preventing child marriages through stricter age verification during marriage registration.
Justice Tej Pratap Tiwari directed the Principal Secretary of the Stamp and Registration Department to appear personally before the court on October 9. The official has also been asked to submit a compliance report and explain why the court's earlier directions were not implemented within the prescribed timeline.
The matter arose during the hearing of a criminal appeal filed by Deepak Pal of Mathura.
Court Seeks Explanation for Delayed Compliance
On September 2, the High Court had issued detailed directions concerning age verification for couples seeking marriage registration in Uttar Pradesh. The court had required the Principal Secretary to submit a verified compliance report by September 30.
However, during proceedings on October 5, the Additional Government Advocate representing the state was unable to provide information about the status of compliance.
The court subsequently supplied another copy of its September 2 order to the state counsel. After contacting the relevant department, the government lawyer requested additional time to obtain and file the necessary affidavit.
The bench did not accept the explanation and questioned why the directions had not been acted upon within the stipulated period.
The court also noted from registry records that the communication conveying its September 2 order had apparently been sent to departmental authorities only on October 5. The delay prompted the bench to seek accountability for the breakdown in communication.
Digital Age Verification Proposed for Marriage Registration
The earlier directions laid down a framework under which marriage registration authorities would have to verify the ages of both parties before completing registration.
Under the legal age requirements referenced in the directions, the bride must be at least 18 years old and the groom at least 21.
If verification indicates that either person is underage, the registration authorities are expected to alert the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer and the appropriate district authorities so that further action can be considered under applicable law.
The court also directed the development of an online verification mechanism connected with reliable government records. The documents identified for verification include birth certificates, educational certificates, passports, permanent driving licences and PAN records.
Applications requiring digital verification would remain on hold until the relevant information is authenticated.
Court Stresses Responsibility of Registration Authorities
The High Court's directions reflect its view that marriage registration should involve meaningful verification rather than simply processing paperwork.
A marriage certificate is an official public record that can have consequences in a range of legal, civil and administrative matters. Accurate verification of information submitted during registration is therefore an important part of the process.
The court indicated that failure to implement safeguards designed to prevent underage marriages cannot be treated as an ordinary administrative delay.
For departments handling regulatory implementation and institutional processes, Business Advisory can support structured approaches to compliance, documentation and operational decision-making.
Principal Secretary Asked to Appear Before Court
The Principal Secretary of the Stamp and Registration Department is now required to appear before the Allahabad High Court on October 9.
The official will be expected to explain the delay in implementing the September 2 directions and provide details of the steps taken to ensure compliance.
The proceedings underline the court's continuing scrutiny of how its directions concerning safeguards against child marriage are translated into administrative procedures across Uttar Pradesh.