Gangtok, May 18: The Anand Marriage Act, which provides Sikh couples with a distinct legal framework to register marriages solemnised under the traditional Anand Karaj ceremony, will come into effect in Sikkim from June 1, according to the Union Law Ministry.

Until now, many Sikh couples in the state had been registering their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 due to the absence of state-level rules. The ministry’s notification, issued on May 14, formally appoints June 1, 2026, as the date when the provisions of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, will be enforced in Sikkim.

This development follows the state government’s notification of the Sikkim Anand Marriage Registration Rules, 2026, which establish localised mechanisms for registration. The rules were framed in compliance with a landmark Supreme Court ruling in September 2025 in the Amanjot Singh Chadha vs Union of India case, which directed states to address administrative gaps in implementing the law.

Although a 2012 amendment to the Anand Marriage Act introduced state-level registration mechanisms, several states, including Sikkim, had not framed the necessary rules. The absence of such provisions had left Sikh couples with limited options—either forgoing registration or registering under the broader Hindu Marriage Act.

The enforcement of the Act in Sikkim is expected to provide clarity and recognition to Sikh marriages conducted under their traditional rites, aligning the state with the Supreme Court’s directive and ensuring equal access to legal safeguards.