If no knotty issue crops up, marriage registrations in the state will go online from February.

Jharkhand chapter of National Informatics Centre (NIC) is learnt to have readied a virtual application module, which will soon be put on trial before the government goes ahead with a formal launch.

Currently, marriages are registered using computers at registry offices for which one has to visit twice - the first time to submit an application and the second time to sign on the dotted line. Once the new service begins, people from anywhere in the state can apply and pay online to seek a registry date.

Sources said online registration of marriages was part of NIC's many citizen-centric services under Jharsewa (a software application that facilitates digital submission of various applications to the government) over the past year.

Shahid Ahmad, state informatics officer, said the online registration system would be linked to Pragya Kendras, which would allow those with limited access to computers to forward an application from the common service centre nearest to their home.

"Payment can also be made online to fix appointment date and time, which again can be rescheduled if necessary without hassle. While the marriage certificate can be collected from the registry office, a digitally signed certificate will also be available online. If the hard copy is misplaced, people can download a soft copy," Ahmad explained.

Rahul Kumar Choubey, district sub-registrar of Ranchi, elaborated the currently cumbersome process of registering a marriage either under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, or the Special Marriage Registration Act, 1964.

"In case of a Hindu marriage registration, one has to apply 60 days in advance and pay Rs 500 on the given date of registry. The late fee is Rs 250. The rates are more or less same for special marriage (non-Hindu) registration, but an extra application fee of Rs 12.50 is charged and registry must be completed within 32 days of the same," he said.

Choubey added that if bride and groom were natives of the same district where they had applied for registration, the marriage certificate was usually handed over on the same day. Else, the couple was asked for local ID proofs.

An NIC official said the online registration process was expected to end the rampant rule of touts by making marriage certificates easily accessible.

"There are middlemen who charge anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 to quickly procure the marriage certificate on behalf of a non-local couple. Also, lower-rung employees in the registry office are guilty of sitting on applications in connivance with touts. The online system will put a stop to this illegal practice," he said.

Will you avail the online marriage registry service? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com