Panjab Villages Pass Diktats on Intra-Village Marriages

In July 2025, the Sirsari and Anokhpura panchayats (village councils) in Faridkot district, Manakpur Sharif panchayat in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district, and Ghal Kalan panchayat in Moga district passed resolutions against marriages between people from the same village. Panchayats cite violent disputes and family feuds to oppose same-village marriages as the reason for such diktats. For example, Jasbir Kaur from Ghal Kalan village was assaulted after her son eloped with a girl from the village and solemnized the marriage in May. While a case was registered when the Punjab State Commission for Women intervened, increasingly village panchayats are taking matters in their own hands. The Manakpur Sharif panchayat resolution says, 'If any boy or girl holds a court marriage without the approval of their families, they will not be allowed to stay in Manakpur Sharif or nearby villages. If any family member or villager is found helping the couple, action will be taken against him or her.' Similarly, the village Uppali panchayat in Sangrur district has banned energy drinks as part of a broader campaign to protect the health of its youth. Sarpanch (village council head) Jangir Singh said, the resolution says anyone who violates the ban will face social boycott. Shopkeepers have pledged their support. Large banners announcing the ban have been put up at every entry point of the village. Jangir Singh said, 'Initially, we started by requesting shopkeepers to stop selling energy drinks. At first, some expressed concern about losses, but they soon agreed, recognizing the larger benefit for children's health.' The trigger for the ban was the realization that many drug addicts were mixing narcotics with energy drinks, said Singh. The panchayat also resolved anyone caught selling or consuming drugs in the village will not receive community support for bail or release. Medical shops have been directed not to sell syringes without valid authorization, and violators will face legal action. The panchayat of Katorewala in the Malout has also passed a unanimous resolution banning the sale of tobacco and its byproducts, energy drinks and the use of drugs in their area.