TN man marries Belgian, faces problem in registering wedding

In a romantic tale transcending borders and cultures, a Tamil Nadu man married a Belgian woman near here, the only problem they face now is the red tapism hindering registration of their marriage.
28-year-old Suresh Kumar had met Sarah while working on a cruise ship in Italy and it was love at first sight.
Though the couple managed to convince their families for their wedding, they are stuck in government procedures to get their marriage registered here, as the woman is a foreigner.
A tribal and resident of Kolli Hills near here, Suresh joined a shipping company as chef after pursuing a hotel management course where he met his future wife, who is two years older to him.

"We managed to convince our families for our marriage. But registering our marriage here is very problematic. Officials say there is no provision in law to register our wedding. I am disgusted," Suresh Kumar told PTI.
"Only if I manage to register our marriage will she be able to get long-term visa," he said adding that his wife's visa would soon expire.

"So she has to go back and come again, I request the authorities to register my marriage so that my wife can stay back here and we can start our life," he said.
Sarah was fascinated by Indian culture and values and wanted to marry a man committed to such values, he said.

Her family came down to witness the marriage and it was solemnised in the Lord Vinayaga temple in the serene Kolli Hills on Monday, he said.