Now, no adults in Gujarat can fall in love and marry without parental consent.
The Gujarat government is likely to come up with an ordinance soon making parental consent mandatory for love marriages, a move that has sparked a controversy and discussion across political and social circles in India.
The proposed ordinance is likely to be approved soon, according to sources. And when this happens, Gujarat will be the first state to have such an ordinance. Interestingly and ironically, leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have expressed unanimous support for this law.
According to sources, the BJP has been attempting to introduce this ordinance since 2023, citing concerns over rising cases of elopement, fraudulent marriages, and distress faced by parents. The issue has gained momentum in recent months following inputs from legislators, community leaders, and local authorities.
BJP MLAs Raman Lal Vora and Hira Solanki, along with Congress MP Geniben Thakor, have publicly stated that a legal framework is needed to ensure parents are not left helpless when their children marry without informing them. They argue that parental involvement can help prevent emotional, legal, and social complications, especially in cases involving young couples.
Community leaders from the influential Patidar community have long demanded such a provision. They contend that teenage girls, driven by emotional decisions, often elope and later face regret, impacting both their lives and their families’ social standing.
Recently, Patidar leaders including Dinesh Bamaniya, Geeta Patel, and Varun Patel met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi to press their demands.
Among their key proposals is a system whereby, in cases of elopement for marriage, a formal notice must be sent to the address linked to the girl’s Aadhaar card. Parents would then be given a month to respond or raise objections.
The urgency behind the proposed ordinance has been further intensified by revelations from local media investigations. Reports have uncovered the existence of several anonymous temples in North and Central Gujarat whose names and addresses are repeatedly used to register hundreds of marriages.
In one striking case, the address of a temple in Godhra, it has been revealed, has been used in more than 100 marriage registrations. When questioned, the local sarpanch and residents revealed that a network involving patwaris (village accountants) and priests was allegedly facilitating such marriages by misusing official records and temple identities.
Following these revelations, Sanghavi held discussions with the Law Minister and senior officials. The state government is now preparing to introduce the ordinance in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting to curb such practices and tighten the legal process surrounding marriages.
Kinjal Dave’s Inter-Caste Engagement Sparks Backlash
Adding another layer to the debate on marriage and social norms in Gujarat is the controversy surrounding popular Gujarati folk singer Kinjal Dave. Known for hit songs such as “Ame Gujarati” and “Char Char Bangadi,” Kinjal recently announced her engagement to her longtime friend Dhruvin Shah, who belongs to a different caste. Kinjal is a Brahmin and Dhruvin is a Jain.
Following the announcement, sections of the Brahmin community expressed strong opposition. Members of the five-paragana Audichya Brahmin community in North Gujarat reportedly held a meeting and decided to socially boycott Kinjal’s family. It is claimed that her grandfather was also present at the meeting.
In response, Kinjal Dave shared a video on social media asserting her right to choose her life partner. She said she is proud to be a member of the Brahmin community but also highlighted what she described as persisting social evils within it, such as child marriage and the practice of Aata Sata (exchange of brides and grooms between families). It means a man marries of his daughter to the son of another family and in turn the groom’s sister is brought home as daughter in law.
Infact, as admitted by Kinjal publicly, she too has been a victim of this Aata Sata custom.
According to reports, her remarks drew sharp criticism from Congress leader Hemang Raval, who accused the singer of making baseless allegations against her own community. Raval stated that the community encourages its children to progress and “gives them wings to fly,” rejecting Kinjal’s claims as unfair generalizations.
A Broader Social Debate
The proposed ordinance and the Dave controversy together reflect a broader societal churn in Gujarat, where tradition, individual choice, and legal oversight are increasingly intersecting. While supporters argue that mandatory parental consent will protect families and prevent exploitation, critics warn that it could infringe on personal freedoms and the right to choose one’s partner.
As the Gujarat cabinet prepares to take a final call on the ordinance, the issue is likely to remain at the center of political and public debate in the days ahead.
Social and women’s rights activist Minaxi Joshi told Vibes of India that there is no way Dave or for that matter any male or female can be meted out such a treatment.
As regards the ordinance, Joshi said that as such a notice is put up outside the marriage registrar’s office before the court marriage and anyone having objection should raise it within a month’s time. Parents’ consent, she said, was not required as the Constitution has given the right to adults to get married.
Also Read: Ganged Up Against Love Marriage, Communities In Gujarat Press For Parents’ Consent https://www.vibesofindia.com/ganged-up-against-love-marriage-communities-in-gujarat-press-for-parents-consent/
