Clarification to be issued on Muslim marriage circular: CM

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Thiruvananthapuram: The Cabinet on Wednesd­ay decided to issue a clarification to allay the  fears regarding the Muslim marriage circular that allowed underage marriage registration. At the Cabinet briefing, chief minister Oommen Chandy said the circular was not aimed at any exe­mption for new registrations but meant for regularising the marriages that had been solemnised earlier. “Since the circular has raised a lot of suspicion and misgivings, we have decided to issue a cl­a­rification,’’ Chandy said.
Earlier, law secretary C.P. Ramaraja Prema Pra­s­ad was summoned to the Cabinet meeting for getting a legal opinion on the circular, who reportedly told the Cabinet the circular had no legal standing. Notwithstanding CM’s explanation, government already has egg on its face as the skewed circular had cited a non-existent law. Under pre­ss­ure, previous Left government had also issu­ed an order, facilitating provisions of the Special Mar­riage Act for Muslim couples.
The circular issued by Pr­i­ncipal Secretary, Local Self-Government,  had st­a­t­ed that “as per the Mus­lim Marriage Act  1957” it is not stipulated that a Muslim girl should attain the age of 18 years or a Muslim boy the age of 21 at the time of marriage. Interestingly, no Muslim Marriage Act existed in the country.