FARIDKOT, 26 July: In a move stirring debate across rural Punjab, the Gram Panchayats of Sirsari and Anokhpura villages in Faridkot district have passed a joint resolution demanding a complete ban on intra-village marriages. The resolution, signed unanimously by panches and sarpanches of both villages, urges the Punjab Government to legislate the ban through the Vidhan Sabha, citing rising violence and breakdown of social order.
Led by Sarpanch Gian Kaur (Sirsari) and Baljit Singh (Anokhpura), the resolution claims intra-village unions are fuelling family disputes, feuds, and even homicides in rural areas. “In recent years, several cases have emerged where intra-village marriages and affairs have led to public fights, family divisions, and even killings,” said Gian Kaur.
The panchayats argue that such marriages blur traditional kinship boundaries, creating confusion in community relationships that have long relied on clear lines of lineage and customary prohibitions. “These marriages are undermining our social fabric. Just like we are fighting the drug menace, we now face this threat to our village harmony,” Kaur added.
Also cited were cases of married women eloping—incidents which the resolution claims have contributed to increasing lawlessness and retaliatory violence. Village elders argue that these disruptions have not only strained personal relationships but have triggered wider instability.
“Violence triggered by affairs and elopements has become a frequent occurrence,” said Baljit Singh. “These cases are pushing our youth toward conflict instead of responsibility. A strong law will act as a deterrent and protect our traditions.”
The resolution demands immediate legislative action from the Punjab Government, calling for a blanket prohibition on intra-village marriages. It asserts that legal clarity on the matter will reduce crime rates and reinforce traditional village values and community discipline.
“If the state enacts a clear law prohibiting such unions, it will help lower the crime rate and bring social stability to rural Punjab,” the statement reads.
However, legal experts and rights activists have already begun raising concerns. A senior advocate, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that any legislation enforcing marriage restrictions based solely on geography or community norms could be challenged in court as unconstitutional. “Marriage is a personal right. The Constitution guarantees freedom of choice. Such resolutions risk undermining individual autonomy,” the advocate said.
Nonetheless, the move reflects a growing anxiety in Punjab’s rural heartland, where village leaders see changing social norms—especially among the younger generation—as a threat to traditional authority structures.
Whether the Punjab Government will take legislative steps in response remains to be seen, but the resolution has sparked a state-wide discussion on the limits of local governance and the role of tradition in modern personal relationships.
