Divorcees are now banned from hosting wedding parties in a county in Southwest China's Guizhou Province, the Chongqing Daily reported Thursday.

According to documents issued by the Party committee of Fenggang county on Sunday, if both partners have married before, including divorced couples that are getting back together, then they are not allowed to host a wedding party.

The Party committee said that this new rule applies to all residents of Fenggang, including those who have moved there from other areas. 

A Fenggang publicity department official said that this rule only targets luxurious parties, through which the couples can get cash gifts. The official added that the rule was still being reviewed, and has not yet been enforced, reported mobile news app Shangyou.

The Fenggang county government has been tough on revelers for a few years. Since 2014, rules have been released concerning this issue.

The rules say residents must inform the authorities before holding parties for weddings, housewarmings, birthdays, baby showers and funerals.

Moreover, civil servants are banned from holding parties including feasts for graduations and students celebrating their teachers.

Though local residents complained about the cost of parties and gifts, many think the new rule has crossed the line into interfering with personal affairs, media reported on Thursday.

Lawyer Zhang Xinnian said that the Fenggang Party committee is suspected of abusing its power as there is no law in China on banning citizens to host parties. Zhang further noted that the committee had the right to release regulations for local officials, but not for ordinary residents. Zhang suggested the local committee encourage citizens to be thrifty, in lieu of issuing coercive rules.