Agence France Presse

New Delhi, July 22:

If papa says no, you can’t marry in Gujarat. The BJP government of deeply traditional Gujarat last month asked courts not to register marriages without written parental consent from both sides, the Times of India reported today. According to Babu Rayka, president of the Surat district Bar Association, at least 40 couples have been turned away by courts in Surat town refusing to endorse their “unlawful” marriages, it said. While state ministers refused to comment on the issue, registrar of marriages H B Varia said the new rules were introduced to appease parents. “We received a large number of complaints from parents, saying their daughters were being forced into marriage. So we instructed marriage bureaus to insist on parents’ approval,” he said. “It is not mandatory.” But most couples are unaware that the order is not legally binding and do not challenge it. “Fifteen to 20 per cent of registered marriages are cases of elopement. We wanted to stop this,” said Varia’s deputy, A A Gameti said.