:dateline:Having first refused the divorce clause in the Anand Marriage Act, Giani Gurbachan Singh has now called on Sikhs living in Punjab and abroad to send their suggestions pertaining to the new bill. The Anand Marriage 2012 �amendment sparked a new controversy as many rejected the amendment of the original act while others expressed dissatisfaction over the �missing� divorce clause.
Commenting on such a wide range of differences amongst the community on the much needed law, Giani Gurbachan Singh has said that a committee will be formed to fully discuss the issues and draft a new version of the Anand Marriage Act. This committee will include Sikh scholars and legal personalities that will work with the SGPC to finalize the act upon presenting it to the Indian Government.
Giani Gurbachan Singh made this statement while talking to the press following a presentation by Daljit Singh, Principal of Khalsa College on the Anand Marriage Act. Daljit Singh had proposed some changes to the act and asked that the new act include all aspects of marriages, including divorce, maintenance, adoption and other issues.
While some Sikh intellectuals have called the Anand Marriage Act dead on arrival, others have called upon Sikh leadership to get the act signed into law and seek any needed amendments later. The passing of the Anand Marriage Act has been deemed important as it defines Sikhs as followers of a distinct religion. Currently, Sikhs are defined as an offshoot of the Hindus, along with Jains and Buddhists, who have to register their marriages as Hindus under Indian law.
