Herald
- Marriage under Goa law stands cancelled
Margao, Feb 28: Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt’s marriage to his long-time love, Dilnashin alias Manyata as per Goan law finally stands cancelled.
Capping a fortnight-long row over the procedure adopted to register the marriage, the duo Wednesday filed a joint declaration before the Salcete Sub-Registrar stating they do not desire to solemnise their marriage under the Portuguese Civil Code, 1867.
Commenting on the dramatic development, Salcete Sub-Registrar Pissurlekar said that the marriage process now stands cancelled with the duo submitting a joint declaration through their lawyer Manoj Dessai, withdrawing the declaration of marriage filed on February 7.
In a joint declaration-cum-statement signed by both Sanjay and Dilnashin, they referred to their declaration of marriage with the Salcete Sub-Registrar on February 7, wherein they had declared to solemnise their marriage in Goa.
However, the duo has now stated that they have been informed that marriage in Goa is governed by the Portuguese Civil Code, 1867. And, they declared that their intention was to register their marriage as per the Special Marriage Act, 1954, adding, “We are now informed that this Act is not extended to the State of Goa.”
“Therefore, we make this joint declaration, declaring that we hereby revoke and withdraw our declaration of marriage. We also declare that documents annexed therewith be treated as withdrawn and cancelled from all legal effect. This joint declaration statement is being made voluntarily out of our free will and without any coercion to be presented before the Civil-cum-Sub Registrar,” the joint declaration stated.
When contacted, the Salcete Sub-Registrar said that when the parties to the marriage declare their intention not to proceed further, the process automatically stands cancelled. Sanjay Dutt’s marriage to Manyata was surrounded by controversy days after they filed a marriage declaration before the Salcete Sub-Registrar on February 7.
Serious doubts were later raised over how Manyata acquired a residence certificate from the Salcete Mamlatdar when she was a resident of Lokhandwala-Andheri, Mumbai, which later resulted in the suspension of the talathi by the District Collector.
A week ago, Manyata was asked to appear in person before the Mamlatdar and show cause why the residence certificate should not be cancelled as it was allegedly obtained through incorrect information. The matter was later fixed for hearing on March 7 after Manyata sought two weeks time to file a detailed reply to the notice.
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