Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said that thecoastal state’s government was mulling making HIV tests mandatory before theregistration of marriages.
“We are considering making an HIV test compulsory forthe prospective couples before registration of marriage in Goa. It is notmandatory right now,” Rane told IANS.
Rane, who is also a Minister for Law, added that theproposal to make HIV testing compulsory before marriage was being vetted by theLaw Department.
“If it is cleared by the Department soon, then we willtable the law in the monsoon session of the state Legislative Assembly,”Rane said.
The monsoon session will begin on July 15.
In 2006, a similar proposal was mooted by then HealthMinister Dayanand Narvekar, with the Goa cabinet approving the legislationmaking HIV testing mandatory before marriage.
But the initiative did not reach fruition.