Kerala women's panel moots regulating big fat weddings

Coming out against extravagant marriages, Kerala Women's Commission has recommended to the state government a legislation to curb the practice and suggested drastic measures including limiting the invitees to 50 families and imposing a fine as a deterrent.
However, the state government is of the view that this may result in infringement of Constitutional rights of people.
The Commission has stated that imposing restriction on extravagant marriages was essential and it can be possible only through legislation.
The women panel's recommendations were brought to the notice of the state Assembly by Minister for Social Justice M K Muneer, while replying to a question today.

He said the Commission had proposed to regulate not only the amount spent on wedding cards, halls, decorations, feast, costumes and ornaments but also to limit the number of functions related to marriages as part of reducing the expenditure.
"The Commission wants the government to impose a fine for those indulging in lavish weddings. The fine amount should be 25 per cent of the total expenditure for the wedding ceremony," he said replying to a question by K S Saleekha (CPI).

According to the recommendations, the number of invitees should be limited to 50 families-- ie 25 each from the bride and groom's families.

The bride should wear only 10 sovereigns of gold jewellery and the groom five, while the money spent on wedding hall should not exceed Rs 50,000, the minister said quoting the Commission's proposals.
However, the minister said such a legislation may be viewed as an infringement on the fundamental rights of people.
"The government is of the view that the extravagant spending related to big fat weddings should be regulated. But it amounts to infringement on the constitutional rights of people. Judiciary may also object to any such legislation or circulars," he said.
Muneer said that before initiating a legislation, mass awareness needs to be created against lavish spending on marriages.

A consensus should also be made among religious and political leaders in this regard, the Minister said adding a direction in this regard has already been given to the Women's Commission and the state social justice department.