New Delhi, June 18 -- The Delhi High Court has refused to relax the mandatory 30-day waiting period prescribed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, for a couple seeking early solemnisation of their marriage due to the groom's impending overseas employment.

Holding that courts cannot direct authorities to act contrary to a statutory mandate, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav dismissed the writ petition. The petitioners had approached the Court seeking a direction to the Marriage Officer, Kalkaji, to exempt or relax the 30-day notice period and solemnise their marriage before June 10, 2026.

They submitted that petitioner no.1 had secured employment abroad and was required to join before that date. Since they had submitted their notice of...