File picture of a wedding ceremony in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, May 10: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had resolved to issue marriage certificates to couples almost six years ago. However, only 4,218 couples have registered their marriages with the corporation till date.

Data reveal that this year, around 298 couples have obtained marriage certificates from the corporation. Last year, 848 couples received their marriage certificates. Applicants complain that high cost of procuring a certificate is responsible for the lack of response in this regard.

“If you register a marriage in court one has to spend around Rs 75. But, when you apply for it through the corporation, you have to deposit Rs 1,000. At a time when the government is initiating steps for encouraging couples to register their marriage, the high cost is discouraging people to do the same,” said secretary of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association Chittaranjan Bairisal.

The civic body to expedite the process had made online application to apply for marriage registration last year, but it failed to achieve much success for lack of awareness.

“Very few applicants have applied for the certificate online so far as one has to be physically present to verify the documents,” said an official working in the BMC.

He also said lack of awareness to apply online was responsible for low footfall to get a marriage certificate.

Similarly, applicants complain that the norm seeking presence of both the parents of the bride and the groom is also acting as a deterrent to the entire process.

“In case of love marriages without concern of family members of any side, the corporation denies giving a certificate saying that the parents of both the bride and the groom need to be physically present which causes difficulty,” said Abhijit Pratap Swain who obtained a marriage certificate from a local court after being refused by the BMC officials.

A marriage, which has already been solemnised, can be registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The certificate acts as the proof of registration of a marriage. The marriage certificate is essential in to prove one’s marriage and for purposes such as obtaining a passport, change of maiden name.

At present, the BMC is issuing marriage certificates within 24 hours from the time of application. BMC has fixed two working days Wednesday and Saturday for this purpose.

Deputy secretary of BMC Krushna Prasad Pati said the corporation had been able to streamline the process.

“Previously, it was taking a week to get a certificate but now one can acquire a marriage certificate within 24 hours of applying for it. We are also thinking of conducting an awareness drive to sensitise people about marriage certificates,” said Pati.