Disciplinary action should be initiated against lawyers for performing secret marriages in their offices or in trade union offices and. It should be initiated for issuing marriage certificates, too.
The court held also the lawyers’ conducted ‘self-respect’ marriages invalid.
The bench said that ‘self-respect marriages must compulsorily be registered as per the law, including the mandatory physical presence in front of the Registrar.
Tamil Nadu had legalised self-respecting marriages. These marriages require consent and minimum age criteria. These had done away the requirement of the upper caste priests and rituals. Mandatory registration is required.
Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/take-action-against-lawyers-presiding-over-marriages-in-their-offices-issuing-marriage-certificates-madras-high-court-to-tn-bar-council
