LUCKNOW, Oct. 18 -- In an effort to plug loopholes in marriage registration and curb child marriages, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a 23-point standard operating procedure (SOP) clarifying existing provisions and standardising age verification procedures for registration officers across the state. The order, issued by the stamp and registration department on October 8 following an Allahabad high court directive, elaborates the procedures to be followed while registering marriages under the UP Marriage Registration Rules, 2017, and reinforces compliance with the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. "Most of the provisions were already in place. After the HC order, we have further fine-tuned and clarified them to ensure uniform implementation and fix responsibility for lapses," principal secretary (stamp and registration) Amit Gupta said. The SOP reiterates that the ages of the bride and groom must be determined on the date of marriage. A marriage in which the groom was below 21 or the bride below 18 on that date cannot be registered, even if they attain the prescribed age before applying.htc...