Ludhiana DC in court for declining NRI couple's marriage registration certificate
DC seeks exemption on ground of ill-health

HIGH COURT: Sumer Singh Gurjar seeks exemption on ground of ill-health
Chandigarh, July 12, 2008
Expressindia
RAGHAV OHRI

Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar is in the soup. In spite of being directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to appear in the court, the DC produced a medical certificate suggesting rest to due to ill-health. Raising eyebrows at the veracity of the medical certificate, Justice Surya Kant has directed the Ludhiana Chief Judicial Magistrate to conduct a fact-finding inquiry and submit the report within a week.

The medical certificate has been issued by the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, suggesting that the DC is suffering from LBP Discogenic and has been advised not to travel for a week. Raising eyebrows over the genuineness of the certificate, Justice Surya Kant said, “The medical certificate has been procured to evade appearance before the court. The Ludhiana CJM is directed to summon the records of DMC, the log book of official car of the DC as well as other records pertaining to his day-to-day schedule, including the leave record and submit a fact-finding report regarding his alleged ailment.”

The High Court has further said that the medical certificate should be sent to CJM, Ludhiana, through a special messenger by Saturday. The DC had been directed to appear in person in the High Court for his objectionable conduct.

The directions were passed in the wake of a contempt petition filed by one Jasjeet Singh , a resident of Ludhiana. Jasjeet had got married to a UK-based woman, Elizabeth Amanda Jones in Ludhiana. The two solemnised their marriage on October 20, 2007. In order to register their marriage, they approached the Ludhiana DC, who is also the marriage officer.

Rather than registering their marriage and giving the NRI couple a marriage registration certificate, the DC raised questions at their marriage. The DC allegedly declined the registration of the marriage of the couple on the ground that Amanda Jones could not produce any certificate showing her unmarried status. The DC also suspected the genuineness of the couple and also stated that before getting married, Jones did not change her religion. Aggrieved at this, the couple gave a public notice in the newspaper inviting objections .

Moreover, the report of the Sub Divisional Magistrate was also sought by the DC, who gave a clean chit to the couple. Despite having no adverse reports against the couple, the DC did not issue the marriage registration certificate. The two moved the trial court, which dismissed the orders passed by the DC on January 22, 2008. The trial court directed the DC to register the marriage and issue them a marriage certificate.

Though the DC issued them the marriage certificate but gave handwritten remarks on the certificate that the issuance of certificate was declined. “However, after the trial court orders, the marriage is registered” read the remarks of the DC over the certificate.

Objecting to the handwritten remarks despite trial court orders , the HC had expressed its strong disapproval over the conduct of the DC.

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