Source: Vishnu Bisram, Trinidad
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 14, 2001: When a Queens, New York, judge ruled that the marriage between a Guyanese couple be considered legal and binding, even though the union was not registered in the county, the decision has marked a turning point for Hindu religious unions. The husband of the union tried to receive a declaration from the court that the couple were never legally married. But his wife was able to provide proof that a Hindu wedding attended by family and friends had taken place over seven years ago. Judge Gavrin said, “that in several previous cases, New York courts had upheld marriages as valid even in the absence of a marriage license involving several other religions.”