Punjab village bans inter-caste and love marriages, threatens expulsion
Amritsar (The Uttam Hindu) : A decision taken by the village council in Dhariwal village, Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar district, has become a topic of discussion and controversy. The council has passed a resolution completely banning any marriage between a boy and a girl within the village, whether love or arranged. The council says this decision was taken to maintain the village's social fabric and traditional values.
The Panchayat meeting unanimously decided that if a boy from the village marries a girl from the same village, the couple will be expelled from the village. Furthermore, the Panchayat has also announced a social boycott of the families involved in such cases.
According to the Panchayat resolution, families violating the rules will not receive any Panchayat or government assistance .
Their signatures will not be required on any village-level documents. In the event of any future legal or administrative problems, no one from the village will testify on their behalf at the police station or in court.
The Panchayat's Argument: The Panchas state that recently, five to six such marriages have taken place within the village, where both the groom and the bride are residents of the same village. This often places the bride's and bride's homes in the same street or directly opposite each other, creating confusion and tension in familial and social relationships. The Panchayat claims that such marriages have led to increased conflict and bitterness within many families.
Sarpanch's Statement: Village Sarpanch Mukhtar Singh stated that the Panchayat's decision was made on February 7th. He stated that love marriages are affecting the village's harmony and increasing disputes. This disciplinary measure has been taken to prevent youth from going astray and maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the village. Although this Panchayat decision is being questioned both socially and legally, it has been announced that it will be implemented in the village.