Shillong, Jan 9: The Maitshaphrang has demanded that married persons contesting the upcoming Assembly polls should furnish marriage certificate when they file their nomination papers.

The Maitshaphrang has made this demand before the Chief Electoral Officer according to provisions of the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.

The Act is expected to be implemented effectively after the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Rules, 2016 was approved by the state government.

Maitshaphrang convener Michael N Syiem told reporters that all candidates should furnish a marriage registration certificate along with other relevant documents, at the time of filing their nomination papers, failing which, the nomination papers should be declared “invalid”.

Syiem said that the Act has clearly stated that it is mandatory for married men and married women to compulsorily furnish a marriage certificate for all official purposes.

“Since legislators themselves have made the law, they should be the first one to implement this marriage act as well as those aspiring to become legislators,” Syiem said.

The chief electoral officer has assured the law department would be consulted on the matter as the state election department has to also follow guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India.

Syiem said that though the Act has been there since 2012 and rules for implementing the Act has come into force in 2016, but many departments of the state government are yet to implement the Act effectively.