HYDERABAD: With concern over a possible National Register of Citizens (NRC) growing among many

, the

State Waqf Board is looking to issue marriage certificates to as many couples as possible. A marriage certificate was one of the documents accepted for

during the recent drive in Assam.

The certificate issued by the waqf board helps in establishing not only the parenthood but also helps identify spouses. Besides personal details of the groom and the bride and their educational qualifications and professions, a Muslim marriage certificate also includes names of the parents of both groom and bride. It gives the age and date of birth.

Since a waqf board is a statutory body formed under the Central Waqf Act 1954, the certificates issued by it are valid and accepted for passport in India and visa by all countries.

The board’s officials say that since many Muslim women do not possess formal educational qualifications, marriage certificates would help. Many Muslim men born prior to 1980 also don’t have birth certificates.

While many Muslims below 30 years in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have educational or birth certificates to establish their link with their parents, the latter may find it difficult to establish their parental link. In such cases a marriage certificate would be of great help, said Islamic scholar Moulana Abdul Kareem.

100-year-old

available

Telangana State Waqf Board chairman Mohammad Saleem told TOI that to issue marriage certificates, special counters would be set up after consulting the state government. “We will discuss the issue with the chief minister. A meeting of district qazis, who perform marriages and keep records, will be convened soon. Our certificates are computerised, and we are ready to meet even a heavy demand,” Saleem said.

Every Muslim marriage in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is registered. Marriage booklets with serial numbers are issued by waqf board to district Qazi or deputy Qazi, who perform the wedding. Copies of the marriage booklets are issued in quadruplets – one copy each for the families of the bride and groom, waqf board and the office of the local qazi. Marriage records for even 100 years are available with some qazis.

Apart from the marriage certificate, the “linkage document” for NRC could be land registration documents, birth certificates, educational certificates, voter lists, ration car, and financial documents like insurance bonds or bank passbooks.