Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays etc.

) Rules, 2003 GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB LOCAL GOVERNMENT & RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Dated Lahore, the 25th February, 2003. NOTIFICATION

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No. SOV(LG)5-7/2003.In exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 11 of the Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Act, 2003 (V of 2003), the Governor of the Punjab is pleased to make the following rules:1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These rules may be called the Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Rules, 2003. (2) 2. They shall come into force at once.

Definitions.- (1) In these rules, unless the subject or context otherwise requires(a) (b) Act means the Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Act, 2003; and Government means the Government of the Punjab in the Local Government & Rural Development Department.

(2) All other terms and expressions used in these rules but not herein defined shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them in the Act. 3. Constitution of Committees.- (1) For each Union, Town or Tehsil there shall be constituted a Union Committee, Town Committee or, as the case may be, Tehsil Committee to be known as the Marriage Function Committees. They shall comprise the following: (a) Union Committee: (i) (ii) (b) Secretary Union Council Convener Two persons to be Members nominated by the District Coordination Officer concerned. Tehsil Municipal Officer or Town Municipal Officer Two persons to be nominated Members by the concerned District Coordination Officer concerned.

Tehsil Committee or Town Committee Convener (i) (ii)

4. Functions of the Committees.- The Committees shall perform the following functions:(a) take measures to create awareness among the people about the adverse

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Compendium of Rules framed under PLGO, 2001 effects of ostentatious displays and wasteful expenses on the occasion of marriage and related ceremonies; (b) (c) inspect such marriage functions suo-moto or on an application received from any person; and scrutinize the complaints received from the general public or authorities mentioned in Section 7 of the Act before forwarding the complaints to the court of competent jurisdiction for trial.

5. Provide information.- Every patwari, lambardar and member of the Union Council shall be responsible for providing information regarding violation of the provisions of the Act in the areas of their respective jurisdiction. 6. Cognizance of offences.- (1) On receipt of an application from any person, the Committee concerned shall scrutinize the complaint. If a person reports to the authorities mentioned in Section 7 of the Act, they shall refer the complaint to the Committee for taking further action. (2) After such scrutiny and enquiry by the Committee as may be deemed necessary, if an offence is made out under Section 8 of the Act, the Convener of the Committee shall forward the same to the court of competent jurisdiction for trial. 7. Undertaking.- Owners or management or proprietor, as the case may be, of wedding/banquet halls, clubs, hotels, restaurants, community centers, community parks, etc. or any other place which is used for such functions, or any caterer shall be required to obtain an undertaking from the host about the number of guests, nature of function and food to be served (see Schedule-1). 8. Joint responsibility.- Owners or management or proprietor, as the case may be, of the wedding/banquet halls, clubs, hotels, restaurants, community centers, community parks, caterers, etc. and the person in whose favour booking was made shall be held jointly and severally responsible for any breach of Section 5 of the Act. 9. Committee not to cause disruption.- The Committee while inspecting the marriage ceremony shall not cause any disruption to the ceremony/function. 10. Implementation of the provisions of Act.- (1) The District Coordination Officer shall hold monthly meetings to review the implementation of the provisions of the Act in the District concerned and forward a report to the Government. (2) The Government may issue such directions for implementation of the provisions of the Act as may be deemed fit. 11. Disposal of food and other edibles.- The food and other edibles procured, prepared, arranged or set for serving in contravention of the Act shall be taken into possession and distributed among the needy and destitute people by the District

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Coordination Officer, the Tehsil Municipal Officer or, as the case may be, the Town Municipal Officer of the District, Tehsil or Town concerned. ----------

SCHEDULE I UNDERTAKING
I _____________________ S/O _____________________ Caste_______ Resident of _______________________________________________________ do hereby confirm that marriage Tehsil of ______________ District ________________ holding National Identity Card No. ______________ ceremony/function _________________________ (nature of function) is going to be celebrated on ______________________ (date) at ________________________ (venue) for which the undersigned undertakes that no provision of the Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Act, 2003 and the rules made thereunder shall be violated and in case of any violation the authorities as envisaged in the Act would .be competent to proceed against me in accordance with law. I also undertake that while celebrating the marriage function, prohibition and restrictions as contained in sections 3 and 4 of the Act shall be observed with full care and caution.

Signature of the Person Celebrating the Function Witness __________________ Witness __________________ -----------