Plan to impose tax on lavish weddings may come a cropper

‘Congress high command is opposed to it’

The State government’s plan to amend the Karnataka Marriages (Regulation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1976 to pave the way for imposition of luxury tax on lavish weddings might not see the light of day even before a public debate is initiated on the subject.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra had announced recently that the idea was to discourage people from spending lavishly on weddings. The plan was to levy luxury tax on wedding ceremonies that cost over Rs. 5 lakh, with 1,000 guests in attendance. Tax collected thus would be pooled to fund marriages of the poor, Mr. Jayachandra had said.

‘Private issue’

The Minister and the government would have to do a rethink since the Congress high command is said to have opposed the move stating that the government should not interfere in the matter because it was a private issue. When contacted, a senior Congress leader here endorsed the views of the party high command questioning the propriety of the proposed amendment.

‘Create awareness’

The idea has not gone down well with the Opposition parties as well. The former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told

The Hindu that though he was of the opinion that people should desist from organising lavish weddings, it would not be possible to put an end to such practices through legislation. Instead, the government should try to create awareness among people against spending lavishly on weddings. In this process, the government should involve various leaders, including religious heads as they wield huge influence over people, he said.

Janata Dal (Secular) MLC M.C. Nanaiah opposed the move and sought to know why the existing laws to curb lavish weddings were not implemented by any government in the past. It was the Income Tax Department that should question people who organise weddings in palaces, five star hotels and other expensive places, he said.

A legislature debate held some 15 years ago over the matter had yielded no result, Mr. Nanaiah said.

According to K. Sanjiv Manvi, a caterer, the proposed move will seriously affect the prospects of people such as cooks, cleaners, launderers, helpers, flower and interior decorators, and videographers. How could the expenditure be kept under Rs. 5 lakh when certain marriage halls charge as much as Rs. 3.5. lakh as rent, he sought to know.