Marriage registration for deceased couple due to Minister M V Govindan's intervention, their disabled son to receive family pension

PALAKKAD: The State Local Self Government Department is going through a rare process of registering the marriage of a deceased couple. The marriage registration of C Bhaskaran Nair and T Kamalam, both from Sekharipuram, Palakkad, who got married 53 years ago, is now being done at the request of their son. Bhaskaran Nair, a soldier and Kamalam were married on June 4, 1969 at the Kodumba Subramanya Swamy Temple. The marriage was not registered as it was not mandatory. Kamalam died 24 years ago and Bhaskakaran Nair died seven years ago.

When Gopakumar, their disabled son, applied for his father's family pension with the help of relatives, he found out that the army did not have any family details. He sought a way to register their marriage, knowing that he is likely to get pension if marriage documents are provided. Finally minister MV Govindan intervened and sought the advice of the Law Department. They recommended that registration be granted in view of the fact that registration was not mandatory at the time of marriage. So the Minister gave permission. The marriage certificate will be handed over to Gopakumar soon after the completion of the procedures. Gopakumar is under the care of his father's family.

As per Kerala Registration of Marriages Rules, 2008 a marriage can be registered even if one of the spouses dies. But there is no mention anywhere about registering a marriage if both parties die.