The Centre has announced that the Anand Marriage Act, which allows Sikh couples to register marriages performed under the traditional Anand Karaj ceremony, will come into effect in Sikkim from June 1, according to a notification issued by the Union Law Ministry.
This means Sikh couples in the state will now be able to directly register marriages conducted under Anand Karaj rites.
Until now, couples in Sikkim had to register their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to get legal recognition.
The notification, issued on May 14, said June 1, 2026, has been fixed as the date when the provisions of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 will officially be implemented in the state.
The ministry also said the Government of Sikkim has already framed and notified the Sikkim Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2026, to ensure the law is implemented smoothly.
The move comes after a significant ruling by the Supreme Court of India in September 2025 in the Amanjit Singh Chadha vs Union of India case, where the court highlighted administrative gaps in implementing the law.
The Anand Marriage Act was amended in 2012 to allow registration of Sikh marriages conducted under Anand Karaj traditions. However, several states, including Sikkim, had not created proper rules for its implementation.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked states to frame the required rules, noting that the lack of proper provisions forced many Sikh couples to register their marriages under broader Hindu marriage laws.