New Delhi: The Haryana government has initiated the process of amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA) in response to khap panchayats’ demands to ban intra-gotra and intra-village marriages as well as the registration of live-in relationships, the Tribune reported.The state government’s Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, referred the matter to the Principal Secretary, Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID) for further action, acting on the demands submitted by the Bharat Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti president Ramesh Dalal and Sarvjatia Kandela Khap head Dharam Pal Kandela.According to the report, Kandela said ‘same-gotra and same-village marriages were in conflict with the social norms in society’ and they had submitted a representation to the state government for amendment of the HMA in line with the khap panchayats’ demands.“The intra-gotra and intra-village marriages amount to social stigma, which result in constant humiliation and mental torture of the parents whose boy/girl solemnise such marital ties which are in violation of social norms. It is necessary to bring amendments in the HMA to accommodate the conditions in accordance with the social norms for maintaining the social fabric and a happy family life,” Kandela was quoted by the Tribune as saying.Dalal had also submitted a representation to the state government last month with the demand that in addition to intra-gotra and intra-village marriages, those between people from bordering villages should also be declared invalid.Dalal said he was assured by top officials of the government that the matter had been assigned to a senior official who was likely to submit the final report to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.“Thereafter, the CM will take the final decision on the demand. In principle, the government was in agreement with me on the proposal for amendment in the HMA,” he was quoted by the paper as saying.The representation was submitted to the Haryana government on July 1, Hindustan Times reported. Nearly 200 mahapanchayats have been organised by khap panchayats demanding the prohibition of such marriages, the report said.