JUDGMENT

The petitioners are desirous of getting married and have filed Exhibit P5 notice of intended marriage before the 1st respondent Marriage Officer. The 2nd petitioner is an Indian born Portuguese citizen and Overseas Citizen of India card holder. Hence, in order to prove his single status, the 2nd petitioner has submitted Exhibit P6 affidavit, apostilled by a Notary Public in England and Wales, before the Marriage Officer. The 1st respondent having refused to take steps for solemnisation of the petitioners’ marriage on the premise that the 2nd petitioner has to produce a single status certificate instead of Exhibit P6 affidavit, this writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the 1st respondent to accept Exhibit P6 affidavit and take appropriate steps for solemnisation and registration of the petitioners’ marriage.

2. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submitted that it is impossible to obtain and produce the single status certificate, since the laws pertaining to marriage in the United Kingdom do not provide for the issuance of such certificate. It is in such circumstances that the 2nd petitioner produced Ext.P6, affirming his single status. It is submitted that the issue