A group of Patidar community members Monday held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Minister of State for Law Kaushik Vekariya seeking changes in the marriage registration process and implementation of 10% EWS reservation in the local body elections.
After the meeting, the leaders of the group said that the ministers have assured them of making changes in the law for the registration of marriage soon. The government is also considering implementing 10% EWS reservation in the local body election after considering legal aspects, the group said. The group has been running a statewide campaign against registration of marriages after elopement without knowledge of parents, especially of the girls. It has organised around 20 public meetings in different parts of the state on the issue.
Notably, most of the leaders in the campaign were active in the 2015 Patidar quota agitation under the banner of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).Some of the prominent names in the campaign, including Dinesh Bambhaniya, Varun Patel, Manoj Panara, Dharmik Malaviya, and Purvin Patel were present at the meeting with Sanghavi and Vekariya at Swarnim Sankul I building in New Sachivalay complex. Swarnim Sankul I houses the offices of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and other Cabinet rank ministers.Addressing media persons after the meeting, Dinesh said their main demand is that the registration of marriage ought to be done at the address of the woman mentioned in her Aadhaar card. They also demanded that parents of the girl, if they seek so, get some time to register their objection to the registration of the marriage after getting a prior notice.
“The registration of marriage should be done at the taluka level of the girl’s address by an officer of the rank of Deputy Mamlatdar or Taluka Development Officer. Currently, it can be done by an officer of the rank of talati-cum-mantri (revenue clerk) anywhere in the state,” Dinesh said.”To meet our demand, no amendment to the law is required. It can be done by modifying the rules under the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act,” he explained.
Varun said that they have also raised the alleged registration of marriages without following due process at some places in districts such as Banaskantha, Panchmahal and Amreli. “We have demanded action in those cases and the Home Minister (Sanghavi) has given instructions to officials to make arrests in those cases after suo motu registering FIR against persons concerned at the earliest,” he said. Speaking to The Indian Express, Varun said, “(Many) Marriages are being registered by taking money illegally. We want the marriage registration process to be stricter.””We are not against love marriages or inter-caste marriages. In the name of such marriage, many girls are being cheated and exploited. And it applies to all communities, not just Patidar. Girls of well-established families are being exploited. After marriage following elopement, many girls realise their mistake and become helpless. We have got support from many other communities as well. Also, we want that the registration is done at the taluka centre of the girl’s address,” Varun added.
Speaking about 10% EWS reservation, Varun said: “The reservation is so far applicable to employment (in government jobs) and education (in government institutes) only. The minister has reassured us that the government is positive on it and will hold discussions while considering Supreme Court judgments, the report of the Jhaveri Commission and other reports. We hope that the 10% EWS reservation will be implemented in the coming local body elections.”Sanghavi and Vekariya could not be reached for their comments.
Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region.
Expertise & Authority
Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues:
Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani.
Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters.
Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis:
State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys.
Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More
