12,114 ‘self-respect’ marriages registered in T.N. since 2018: Minister

P. Moorthy, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration. File
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy told the Assembly on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) that 12,114 ‘self-respect’ marriages have been registered in Tamil Nadu since 2018.

He was responding to Thousand Lights MLA N. Ezhilan, who urged the State government to conduct awareness programmes for Sub-Registrars regarding self-respect marriages. Mr. Ezhilan pointed out that some Sub-Registrars were reluctant to register such marriages.

Self-respect marriages, also called ‘Suyamariyadhai Thirumanam’, are generally solemnised in the presence of relatives, friends, or other persons, in the absence of a priest and without following any traditional wedding rituals.

In his response, Mr. Moorthy said steps were being taken to ensure the registration of self-respect marriages under Section 7(A) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, at all Sub-Registrar Offices across the State. Further, employees of the Registration Department are periodically undergoing training on the registration process for self-respect marriages, he said.

The Minister also said the Registration Department has introduced online facilities for submitting marriage registration applications, fee payments, and appointment scheduling at Sub-Registrar Offices. He also mentioned that corrections to marriage certificates can now be made online.

Electricity to tribal hamlets

Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise V. Senthilbalaji said in the Assembly that the State government was working to provide electricity connections to 20 tribal households in Kadaman Kombai hamlet at Nellithurai village near Mettupalayam at a cost of ₹1.23 crore. He added that the Electricity Department had received the approval from the Forest Department for the project.

He was responding to Mettupalayam MLA A.K. Selvaraj, who raised concerns about frequent wildlife movement near the hamlet. Mr. Senthilbalaji also said efforts were under way to provide power supply to 24 tribal households in Boolapathi hamlet, Tholampalayam village, in Coimbatore district, at a cost of ₹92 lakh.