Govt issues Guest Control order

Expenses, guest list tab on weddings from April

22/02/2017

JAMMU, Feb 21: Shrinking the big fat Kashmiri wedding and other opulent functions, the Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed curbs on expenses, the guest list and dishes to be served on such occasions.
Also, it has put a ban on the use of amplifiers, loud speakers and fire crackers at such events in the state.
"The government issued a Guest Control Order to impose restrictions on the injudicious use of essential commodities during social, government and private functions and a complete ban on the use of amplifiers, loud speakers and fire crackers on such occasions," Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali said.
He told reporters here that the order was issued after the department received complaints and representations from civil society organisations regarding the "injudicious" use of essential commodities and exorbitant expenditures made on public and private functions.
The department, after taking cognisance of the complaints, issued the order, putting a complete ban on any person sending dry fruits, sweet packets with invitation cards to relatives, friends, guests etc.
Ali said the number of guests to be invited on the marriage of daughter including baraat should be restricted to a maximum of 500 and on that of son, it should not exceed 400.
"For functions like ring ceremony of son, daughter and other small events, the number of guests invited should not cross the hundred mark," the minister said.
The order restricts the number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes to a maximum of seven each. Besides, not more than two stalls of sweets or ice cream can be set up.
The minister said the law is "same for everyone and will be applied to all, irrespective of his/her status in the society".
The order will be applicable from April 1 as the government wanted to give a buffer period of 40 days to people who have already distributed invitation cards.
Ali also asked the organisers to ensure that food items, uncooked or cooked, do not go waste during such functions.
"If there is surplus food, it should be given to the needy," he said.
No plastic or indecomposable material should be thrown in the open and the same should be collected in a separate dustbin and disposed of properly by the host or the organiser, Ali said.
Besides, the order places a complete ban on the use of big generator sets, high-pitch sound amplifiers, loud speakers, decks, profuse lightning, bursting of crackers in social as well as government functions.
The minister also urged for support from the public to make the initiative a success.
The Minister said the order was issued after the department received complaints and representations, both from civil as well as social organizations regarding injudicious use of essential commodities and exuberant expenditures made in public and private functions.
He said taking cognizance of the complaints, the department issued Order No: 39-FCS&CA of 2017, under which there shall be complete ban on sending dry fruits, sweet packets with invitation cards by any person to relatives, friends, guests etc.
Mr Zulfkar Ali informed that limited number of guests would be allowed to be invited for on marriage ceremonies. "The number of guests to be invited on marriage of daughter including baraat should be restricted to a maximum of 500, while for marriage of son, the number should not exceed 400. For functions like ring ceremony of son, daughter and other small functions the number of guests invited should be 100 only," the Minister said.
He added as per order, number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes should be restricted to a maximum of seven each, besides, two stalls of sweets or ice cream.
Assuring strict implementation of the order, the Minister said; "The law is same for everyone, and would be applied to all, irrespective, of his/her status in the society."
The Minister said keeping in view that many people have already distributed the invitation cards, and have made arrangements as per the invitation, therefore, a buffer period of 40 days is given to them and the order would be applicable from April 1, 2017.
To put a check on the wastage of leftover food in the functions, the Minister said it should be ensured that there is no wastage of any sort of food items, uncooked or cooked during such functions. He said if there is some surplus food, it should not be wasted by throwing it into bin, but should be provided to the needy people.
He added that no plastic or indecomposable material should be thrown in open field, and the same should be collected in separate dustbin and shall be disposed of properly by the host, organizer.
Besides, the Minister informed there shall be a complete ban on use of big generator set, high pitch sound amplifiers, loud speakers, decks, profuse lightning, bursting of crackers in social as well as government functions.
The Minister said it will save the general public from the inconvenience of noise pollution and air pollution caused by the various gadgets. He also sought public support to make the initiative a grand success.
Secretary, FCS&CA, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Special Secretary, FCS&CA, Nissar Wani, and other concerned officers were present in the conference.

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