Smt. Seema vs Ashwani Kumar

The Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of compulsory marriage registration in India, referencing Article 16(2) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Constitution of India, particularly Entries 5 and 30 of List III of the Seventh Schedule. The Court held that compulsory registration is crucial for preventing child marriages and ensuring legal recognition of marriages, thus supporting the establishment of guidelines for marriage registration across states. The judgment highlighted existing statutes that provide for marriage registration, reinforcing the need for uniformity in this legal framework.