Illegal Issuance of Marriage Certificates by Notaries, Orissa HC Orders Biennial Audit  

Cuttack: Expressing concern over notaries issuing marriage certificates as they are neither authorised nor legally entitled to it, Orissa High Court has ordered the Odisha government to to audit their documents at least twice a year. The High Court also asked the state government to conduct an awareness programme for all the notaries in the State regarding the matter.

Orissa High Court issued this order while hearing a petition related to a marriage certificate issued by a notary in the Simulia area in Balasore.

On March 18, 2009, the State Law Department issued a notification directing all the notaries not to issue marriage certificates which is not a function of the notary under Section 8(1) of the Notaries Act, 1952. Notaries are not authorized to issue certificates of marriage.

Yet the notaries in Odisha are continuing to issue marriage certificates although these certificates have no legal value and cannot be used as valid proof of marriage.