Goa government is set to introduce mandatory counselling for couples before marriage registration

 In a bid to combat rising cases of divorce, the Goa government is set to introduce mandatory counselling for couples before marriage registration. This counselling, which will be conducted by the state, would “explain the concept of marriage” to couples before they are allowed to enter into wedlock, law minister Nilesh Cabral said.

Cabral said the counselling would be done immediately after the first signature and would be conducted through the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD). “If any religious institutes want to join in the pre-marriage counselling, then they are also welcome,” he said.

“The certificate of completion of counselling (from GIPARD) would be compulsory for the second signature. It has come to our notice that the number of marriages is equal to the number of divorces in the state, and that is the reason we have taken this step to explain the concept of marriage to couples,” he said.

Under Goan law—the uniform civil code—the first signature is the couple’s declaration of intent to marry before the civil registrar. The second signature before the same authority, after 15 days of the first signature and within three months, is the formal marriage registration.

Cabral also said that couples are filing for divorce within six months to two years of marriage but didn’t produce any data to back the statement. He also said through counselling, the state government will explain the responsibilities of marriage to the couple.

Asked whether most divorces take place because of clashes with in-laws, state registrar-cum-head of notary services Ashutosh Apte said the government will try to help the bride and groom improve themselves and promote understanding between their in-laws, and understand the nature of the family “to develop them to live in society”.

Cabral said Goans, who have settled outside the state or country, used to face difficulties to register their marriage in Goa. Now, to streamline the marriage registration process for Goans who live outside the state, the state government has decided to give power to the district registrar, who will issue permission to register their marriage in Goa, thus nixing the need to go to court.

Cabral also said the state government has decided to start a citizen-friendly facilitation centre and helpline in all talukas to help people who are not well-versed with online technologies.

The minister added that it has been decided to go cashless at registration offices. “We will not take cash at sub-registrars’ offices. We have kept a POS machine for payment, and online payments will also be accepted,” he said.

He also said that the government has decided not to accept physical applications for duplicate copies of documents such as sale deeds. “The entire system will be put online,” he said.

Cabral also said that they have also decided to go paperless within the department, to help the people.