Fear honour killing, declare it in marriage forms

Couples might be allowed to seek police protection from registrar where marriage is to be performed under Special Marriage Act

Concerned over honour killings, the CIC has suggested to the central and states governements to include a declaration by the couple who intend to have a court marriage if they apprehend a threat to their life and liberty.

Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu also suggested that couples may be allowed to seek police protection from the registrar where marriage is to be performed under the Special Marriage Act.

He said such requests should be sent to be Station House Officer who can inquire into the matter and if, prima facie, the SHO finds the threat to be real, take adequate measures to offer protection to the couple.

However, the Commission also directed SDMs or marriage officers to ensure that the 30-day notice of the marriage under Special Marriage Act should be widely circulated which mandatory under Section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act to facilitate the interested persons (including parents or guardians) to know and raise objections, if any, to safeguard the interests of the partners to the proposed marriage.

Under the Special Marriage Act, marriage can be solemnised after a copy of the notice in this regard is pasted on the office notice board by the SDM.

"Any person may within 30 days of issue of notice, can file objection to the intended marriages. In such a case, the SDM shall not solemnise the marriage until he has decided the objection, within 30 days of its receipt," the Information Commissioner noted.