Marriage Bill referred to committee

The Delhi Legislative Assembly on Monday referred Delhi Registration of Marriages Bill, 2012 to a select committee of the Assembly after certain MLAs objected to some of its provisions.

The Bill was introduced in the House by health minister  A K Walia, who also briefed the members about its salient features — making registration of marriage compulsory and defaulters to be fined with Rs 10,000.

But certain members including Matia Mahal and Member of Legislative Assembly Shoiab Iqbal demanded a thorough study of the Bill before it is passed.

Iqbal wanted to know whether the fine will be reduced in case of those belonging to economically weaker sections of society and religious minorities.

Speaker Yoganand Shastri referred the Bill to a select committee of the House after a voice vote that agreed to a thorough scrutiny of the Bill.