The Madras High Court dismissed a Petition seeking a direction to the Registering Authorities to accept the Memo for Registration Of Marriages where applicants mention No Religion.

The Petition before the High Court was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a direction to the respondents to issue clarification to registering authorities in the State to enable them to receive the Memorandum for registration of marriages in Form I at Appendix of Tamil Nadu Registration of Marriage Rules, 2009 by mentioning No Religion by applicants.

“Certainly that cannot be a Public Interest Litigation”, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice K.R.Shriram and Justice L.Victoria Gowri said.

Advocate R. Narayanan represented the Petitioner while Additional Advocate General Veerakathiravan represented the Respondent.

The Petitioner’s Counsel stated that it is the petitioner who is personally affected because the petitioner does not want to disclose which religion the petitioner belongs to. In view of such submission, the Bench held that the present petition can’t be treated as a Public Interest Litigation.

The Bench dismissed the Petition and concluded, “There shall be no order as to costs.”

Cause Title: M. Ayyappan v. The State of Tamil Nadu (Case No.: W.P.(MD) No.25434 of 2018)

Appearance:

Petitioner: Advocate R.Narayanan

Respondents: Additional Advocate General Veerakathiravan, Government Pleader P.Thilak Kumar

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