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Gujarat Proposes Mandatory Parental Consent Under Marriage Registration Act Amendment, Citing 'Love Jihad' Concerns

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims MediumMains HighStatic GK Link
22 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
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What This Article Covers

1.Gujarat proposes amendment to marriage registration law requiring parental consent for adult marriages.

2.The move is criticized as infringing Article 21 rights, infantilizing women, and deepening communal fault lines.

3.This trend is seen in other states like UP, MP, and Uttarakhand, expanding state scrutiny of personal relationships.

The Big Picture
Prelims · MediumMains · High

Gujarat government's proposed amendment to the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006, mandating parental consent for marriage registration, raises critical constitutional and civil liberty questions. It reflects a growing trend of state intervention in personal choices and interfaith marriages under the guise of 'love jihad' prevention, conflicting with Supreme Court jurisprudence on individual autonomy.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Act AmendedGujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006
Related SC CasesLata Singh v State of UP (2006), Shafin Jahan v Asokan K M (2018), Laxmibai Chandaragi B v State of Karnataka (2021)
Other States with Similar LawsUttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Act Amended: Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006
  • ›Related SC Cases: Lata Singh v State of UP (2006), Shafin Jahan v Asokan K M (2018), Laxmibai Chandaragi B v State of Karnataka (2021)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006 is being amended.
  • ›Target this Constitutional Point: Article 21's protection of personal liberty includes the freedom to choose a partner (Lata Singh, Shafin Jahan cases).
  • ›Target this Trend: Similar laws exist in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (anti-conversion), and Uttarakhand (UCC).

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

The proposed amendment discussed in the news pertains to which specific state legislation?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional position on the right to choose a life partner:

1. The right to choose one's partner is an integral part of Article 21's guarantee of personal liberty.

2. The family or community holds a veto power over the marriage choice of consenting adults.

3. The state's duty is to protect the autonomy of individuals in their personal choices, not subject it to paternalistic scrutiny.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary constitutional concern raised against the Gujarat government's proposal for mandatory parental consent for marriage registration?

Q4Data-centricMedium

According to the article, which of the following states has NOT been mentioned as having laws that expand state scrutiny over adult relationships?

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