PESHAWAR, Feb 2: The tehsil municipal officers (TMOS) will now have the power to lodge written complaints in courts against any violation of ban on serving meals at valima receptions. However, the government staff or police have not been empowered to raid or interrupt a marriage ceremony.

The provincial government has appointed the TMOs, within their perspective jurisdiction, to be the officers for only lodging complaints with the courts of competent jurisdiction regarding an offence under the Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses Ordinance 2000, an official notification issued here on Monday said.

On Nov 5, the Supreme Court barred the serving of meals or other edibles except hot and (soft) cold drinks at wedding ceremonies at hotels, clubs, wedding halls, community centres or any other place.

The members attending a wedding ceremony could be served meals within the premises of a house only, the SC judgement said. Under the powers conferred by section 7 of the Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance, 2000, the NWFP government has empowered the TMOs to control and to take notice of the ostentatious displays and wasteful expenses at the wedding ceremonies in their jurisdiction.

The tehsil municipal staff will keep the TMO informed about the activities in the areas in his jurisdiction. The TMO will be responsible to file a written complaint to the judicial magistrate if the SC order regarding ban on wedding meals was violated.

The TMO would only inform the court in written form and would not be empowered to raid the wedding reception or call police for the purpose, official sources said.

Neither the TMO (government) nor the police force could interfere in a wedding ceremony. The judicial magistrate after receiving a written complaint from the respective TMO will be bound to take action.

After various meetings it was decided that the police would not be directly involved in the violation on ban of wedding meals and it could be involved only after the courts ordered the police.

The whole responsibility to take notice and lodge written complaint with the judicial courts was placed with the TMOs, they said. Those found violating law prohibiting the ostentatious displays and wasteful expenses would be punishable for at least one month imprisonment and fine up to Rs500,000 by the courts.