A Bill amending the Tamil Nadu Registration of Marriages Act, 2009, was passed in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The amendment facilitates the registration of marriages at the office of the Registrar where the bridegroom or bride reside. Presently, a marriage can be registered only in the office of the Registrar of the area where the marriage is performed.
A Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, replacing an Ordinance extending the tenure of Special Officers in select village panchayats, panchayat unions and district panchayats in Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi, till December 31, 2020 was also tabled.
When Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani sought to move the Bills in the House, DMK MLA M. Subramanian (Saidapet) opposed the legislation in the introductory stage on behalf of his party.
Later, when it was taken up for consideration, Mr. Subramanian pointed out that the ruling AIADMK government had not held the local body polls for various reasons and the absence of representatives hit the most when the State was affected by the spread of COVID-19.
DMK legislator K. Pitchandi (Kilpennathur) opposed the legislation on extending the tenure of special officers for rural local bodies in the introductory stage.
In his reply, Mr. Velumani pointed out it was the DMK that went to court over the local body elections. After a voice vote, the Bills were passed in the House.
The Assembly also passed a Bill to repeal certain enactments, as they had become obsolete and redundant, as per the recommendations of the State Law commission.
Cooperative societies
The Minister for Cooperation, Sellur K Raju, tabled a Bill to empower the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to place any board of an erring cooperative society under suspension immediately, after the issue of notice of supersession. The Bill would also enable the Registrar to appoint an interim administrator to manage the affairs of the society, till an order is passed thereon within a period of two months from the date of issue of the notice.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami moved a Bill to give effect to a decision to provide rent-free hostel facilities for former members of the Legislative Assembly ad Legislative Council (since abolished), for attending Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations in Chennai.
Law Minister C. Ve. Shanmugam tabled a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Advocates’ Clerks Welfare Fund Act, 1999 (Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1999) to revise various fees payable under the Act and the value of the Welfare Fund stamp. A Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Court-fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1995 was also tabled.
