Mandeep Singh & ANR. v. Government Of NCT Of Delhi, Through Its Chief Secretary & ANR.

$~105 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + MANDEEP SINGH & ANR.

..... Petitioners Through:

Mr. Manmohan Singh Narula, Mr.

Sarabjeet Singh, Mr. Himanshu, Ms.

Manisha Singh and Mr. Khushal, Advocates.

versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI, THROUGH ITS CHIEF SECRETARY & ANR.

..... Respondents Through:

Ms. Mehak Nakra, ASC with Ms.

Aditi Kapoor and Mr. Devansh Solanki, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD

O R D E R

% 30.05.2024 CM APPL. 33307/2024 (Exemption) Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

1.

The present Writ Petition has been filed by the Petitioners seeking a direction to the Respondents to allow Petitioners to appear through video conferencing before the Registering Authority/Respondent No.2 herein for the purpose of registration of their marriage. 2.

It is stated that marriage between the Petitioners was solemnized on 24.11.2002 as per Sikh Customs and Rites in Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd), L-Block, Anand Vihar, Jail Road, Hari Nagar, New Delhi110064. It is stated that the Petitioners along with their children relocated to The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Canada on 07.10.2021 and since then they have been residing in Canada and earning their livelihood. It is stated that the Petitioners, thereafter, initiated the process of applying for a permanent resident card in Canada and during which they were informed that Marriage Registration Certificate is required for the same. It is stated that for the purpose of registration of marriage, the Petitioner No.1 applied for the registration of marriage online before SDM, Patel Nagar, however, due to the fact that the Petitioner No.2 was unable to come physically since she was in Canada, the application of the Petitioner was rejected on the ground that Petitioner No.2 was not present physically and, thereafter the Petitioners have approached this Court. 3.

Learned Counsel for the Petitioner has drawn the attention of this Court towards a judgment passed by this Court in Reena Chadha & Anr. v. Government of NCT of Delhi, 2021 SCC Online Del 4336, wherein this Court allowed the Petitioners to appear virtually before the Registering Authority for marriage.

4.

This Court is inclined to allow the present Writ Petition and permit Petitioner No.1 to join through video conferencing for the purpose of registration of marriage. The Petitioner No.2 is directed to come to India and present physically before the Registering Authority/Respondent No.2. 5.

It is submitted by the learned Counsel for the Respondents that in view of the advancement in the technology in Artificial Intelligence, the possibility of somebody impersonating the Petitioner No.1 cannot be ruled out and for this purpose Petitioner No.1 be directed to appear before the Indian High Commissioner at Vancouver, Canada on 28.06.2024. 6.

Accordingly, Petitioner No.1 is directed to appear before the Indian High Commissioner at Vancouver, Canada on 28.06.2024 and join the video The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

conferencing from there.

7.

The High Commissioner is requested to permit Petitioner No.1 to join through video conferencing for the purpose of registration of the marriage. 8.

With these directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J MAY 30, 2024 S. Zakir The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.