The maximum limit of 50 guests at wedding ceremonies as directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is “too liberal” & counterproductive to the measure being taken to contain COVID-19 spread, an Advocate said in a plea filed in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana demanding that it be reduced further.
Disposing the plea filed by Lawyer Hari Chand Arora Wednesday, the HC ordered the Centre & the states of Punjab & Haryana & the Chandigarh Administration to take a decision on the demand for reducing the upper limit for guests allowed in marriage functions.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha & Justice Arun Palli, in the order, said, “The petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to represent the authorities concerned & in the event any such representation, as indicated above, is made, a decision thereon shall be taken in accordance with law.”
Advocate Arora later mailed a representation to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority as well as authorities in Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh.
During the hearing, Arora pleaded that the upper limit of 50 guests is too much on the higher side & it would prove counterproductive to the protective & preventive measures being taken to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
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Arora also referred to the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, as amended by both Punjab & Haryana. Both the amendments place an upper limit of 25 persons on the marriage party. In addition, Haryana provides for 11 band members.
Punjab law says the 25-upper-limit will be exclusive of minors & members of the band.
Arora submitted that “Thus, not only the government guidelines issued by MHA which have prescribed the upper limit of 50 guests in marriage related gatherings, are too liberal, but the same are violative of the aforesaid provisions of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 as applicable in the states of Punjab & Haryana as well as Union Territory Chandigarh”.
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Additional Solicitor General of India, Satya Pal Jain & the counsel representing Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh told the court that Arora’s representation will be considered while formulating a new policy.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines issued on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of guests must not exceed fifty at marriage-related gatherings.
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