The gram panchayat of Manakpur Sharif village in Mohali district, Punjab, passed a resolution on July 31 banning love marriages without family or community consent. It prohibits such couples from residing in the village or nearby areas and threatens punitive measures against supporters or shelters.
Triggered by a recent controversial elopement, the resolution has sparked criticism from political leaders, rights activists, and legal experts who deem it unconstitutional and an infringement on fundamental rights.
Village leaders defend the move as necessary to preserve tradition and social harmony. Local officials reaffirm adults’ legal freedom to marry and promise law enforcement if complaints arise.
Preserving Tradition or Curtailing Freedom
Manakpur Sharif is a small village located just 10 kilometres from Chandigarh, with a population of roughly 2,000. The gram panchayat resolution came after a 26-year-old man, Davinder, married his 24-year-old niece, Baby, against their families’ wishes. This event stirred strong reactions, prompting the panchayat to take a hard line. Sarpanch Dalbir Singh justified the decision as a “preventive step” designed to uphold the village’s cultural values and protect social harmony.
Singh emphasised that the entire panchayat endorsed the resolution unanimously and encouraged neighbouring villages to adopt similar measures. Locals claim that such marriages disrupt familial relationships and societal peace, leading to conflicts and division.
Several residents view the resolution as a way to caution youth and discourage marriages that go against family and community expectations.
A Worrying Trend in Punjab Villages
The incident in Manakpur Sharif village is part of a wider pattern across Punjab, where multiple village councils have passed similar resolutions banning intra-village love marriages without family consent. These decrees often come with social boycotts, eviction threats, and ostracism.
Villages in Faridkot district and Galwatti have taken comparable stands in recent months amidst reports of violent family feuds and social disruptions tied to unauthorised marriages. Affected couples have at times sought refuge in legal systems, challenging the legitimacy of such panchayat diktats that conflict with constitutional protections.
Political leaders like Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi have condemned these village resolutions as “Talibani diktats” violating citizens’ rights to personal choice and dignity. Rights groups assert that adults’ freedom to marry by their own choice is a fundamental legal right protected by the Indian Constitution.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian recognises the importance of protecting cultural heritage while also acknowledging the need to respect individual freedoms. The bans imposed by the Manakpur Sharif panchayat and other villages raise questions about the balance between community values and the rights of adults to make personal choices in marriage.
Social harmony can be supported through open dialogue, understanding, and education alongside traditional practices. Rather than resorting to punitive measures, village councils might consider approaches that encourage peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. The ongoing challenge is to find a way for cultural identity and personal liberty to coexist without overshadowing each other.
