Calcutta, Jan. 31: The government today announced that registration of marriage would be mandatory from February 4 for all communities in Bengal.

Violators would have to cough up a fine of Rs 25, as stipulated in the amended West Bengal Marriage Registration Act, law minister Robilal Moitra said at Writers’ Buildings.

Although the rule does not apply to marriages before February 4, the minister urged all couples to get the registration done.

The government had amended the act to make it more binding on couples. The notification for the amendment had been issued, the minister said.

The marriage registration fee is Rs 420. But those belonging to the below-poverty-line category are offered a 50 per cent discount.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is divided over making registration compulsory.

A section led by secretary Maulana Syed Nizamuddin feels it is “impractical”. He said it amounted to “interference in the Muslim Personal Law and a step towards Uniform Civil Code”.

Syed Shahabuddin, considered a “hardliner”, did not see anything wrong with the directive. He reasoned that since the amended act recognises qazis (who solemnise marriages) as registrars, it would not hamper religious requirements and rites.

The board will discuss the matter at a three-day session in Calcutta beginning February 29.

The act aims to curb under-age marriages.

S.S.Z. Adnan, who heads the West Bengal Minority Commission, said it should be an effective tool to keep a check on child marriages. “But the government should have the machinery to impose it, particularly in the rural belt,” he added.

The law minister admitted that there are not enough marriage registrars in the state. “We want to start the process with whatever we have”.

But there are plans to make more appointments. “We will increase the number of non-official registrars, special marriage registrars and Muslim marriage registrars to meet the rush during the wedding seasons,” Moitra said.