Kerala will soon become the first state in India to make registration of divorce mandatory. In an attempt to ensure the welfare of divorcees and their children, the government is all set to bring in a legislation making it compulsory to register divorce and to introduce a registry. The decision has been made as per the recommendations of the assembly committee on the welfare of women, transgenders, children and differently abled, said Local Self Government Minister M V Govindan.

The divorce registry will have details of kids, if any, at the time of divorce. The legislation to ensure the protection of the future of kids will be part of this move. The Law Commission of India, in its 2008 report, had pointed out the need to register both marriages and divorces.

The Minister said that the procedure is being followed as per the recommendation of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Committee on the Welfare of Women, Children, Transgender and Disabled.

‘’There is no law in any state in India requiring a compulsory divorce registration, Kerala is setting an example for the country on this,” Minister MV Govindan said. Marriage and divorce are included in the concurrent list of the Constitution, so the state has the power to legislate for divorce registration, the minister added.

The legislation will be enacted under the Kerala Marriage and Divorce Registration Act. The Kerala Marriage Registration Rules, 2008 will be amended to include provisions for registration of divorces.