Government lays down advisory for matrimonial websites

Aiming to put an end to the fraudulence on the matrimonial sites, the government on Thursday approved an advisory on functioning of such websites and also made identity proof mandatory to create accounts.

Several complaints were lodged with the Ministry of Communications and IT and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which prompted the government to take this step, according to sources.

"Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has approved the advisory on functioning of matrimonial websites on Thursday. With this, legal standards of matrimonial sites are laid down clearly," sources said.

"The user may be shortly advised to submit or upload the copy of supporting documents such as proof of ID, address for the purpose of identification."

The advisory stated that the matrimonial websites should always store IP address of profile creator for one year even after the account is deleted. It was made mandatory to confirm users' intent to a matrimonial site.

It also said the service providers of such sites should also declare on the home page of the site that the website is for matrimonial purpose only and should not have any obscene material.

"The website should maintain transparency. It should have fairness in data collection, have an objective to identity proof and have an in-built mechanism of grievance redressal," the source said.

"It should also encourage registered users to report fraudulent activities."