(Act No.43 of 1954)[9th October 1954]
An
Act to provide a special form of marriage in certain cases, for the
registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
1. Short title, extent and commencement- (1) This Act may be called the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and
Kashmir, and applies also to citizens of India domiciled in the
territories to which the Act extends who are in the State of Jammu and
Kashmir.
(3) It shall come into force on such date, i.e.1st January, 1955 as the
Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
appoint.
2. Definitions- In this Act, unless the context otherwise, requires,-
(a) (* * * *) Omitted
(b) "degrees of prohibited relationship" - a man and any of the persons
mentioned in Part I of the First Schedule and a woman and any of the
persons mentioned in Part II of the said Schedules are within the
degrees of prohibited relationship. Explanation I.- Relationship
includes,-a) relationship by half or uterine blood as well as by full
blood:b) illegitimate blood relationship as well as legitimate;c)
relationship by adoption as well as by blood;and all terms of
relationship in this Act shall be construed accordingly.Explanation II.-
"Full blood" and "half blood"- two persons are said to be related to
each other by full blood when they are descended from a common ancestor
by the same wife and by half blood when they are descended from a common
ancestor but by different wives. Explanation III.- "Uterine blood"- two
persons are said to be related to each other by uterine blood when they
are descended from a common ancestress but by different
husbands.Explanation IV.-In Explns. II and III. "ancestor" includes the
father and "ancestress" the mother;
(d) "district", in relation to a Marriage Officer, means the area for
which he is appointed as such under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2)
of Sec.3;
(e) "District Court" means, in any area for which there is a City Civil
Court, and in any other area, the principal Civil Court of original
jurisdiction, and includes any other Civil Court which may be specified
by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette as
having jurisdiction in respect of the matters dealt with in this Act:
(f) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(g) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof.
Solemnization of Special Marriages
4. Conditions relating to solemnization of special marriage.-
Notwithstanding
anything contained in any other law for the time being in force
relating to the solemnization of marriages, a marriage between any two
persons may be solemnized under this Act, if at the time of the marriage
the following conditions are fulfilled namely:
(a) Neither party has a spouse living:
(b) neither party-
(i) is incapable of giving a valid consent to it in consequence of unsoundness of mind, or
(ii) though capable of giving a valid consent, has been suffering from
mental disorder of such a kind or to such an extent as to be unfit for
marriage and the procreation of children; or
(iii) has been subject to recurrent attacks of insanity or epilepsy;
(c) the male has completed the age of twenty-one years and the female the age of eighteen years;
(d) the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited
relationship:Provided that where a custom governing at least one of the
parties permits of a marriage between them, such marriage may be
solemnized, notwithstanding that they are within the degrees of
prohibited relationship: and
(e) where the marriage is solemnized in the State of Jammu and Kashmir,
both parties arecitizens of India domiciled in the territories to which
this Act extends.Explanation- In this section, "customs, in relation to a
person belonging to any tribe, community, group or family, means any
rule which the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify in this behalf as applicable to members of that tribe,
community, group or family:Provided that no such notification shall be
issued in relation to the members of any tribes, community, group or
family, unless the State Government is satisfied-
(i) that such rule has been continuously and uniformly observed for a long time among those members;
(ii) that such rule is certain and not unreasonable or opposed to public policy; and
(iii)that such rule is applicable only to a family, has not been discontinued by the family.
5. Notices of intended marriage.- When
a marriage is intended to be solemnized under this Act, the parties of
the marriage shall give notice thereof in writing in the Form specified
in the Second Scheduleto the Marriage Officer of the district in which
at least one of the parties to the marriage has resided for a period of
not less than thirty days immediately preceding the date on which such
notice is given.
6. Marriage Notice Book and publication.- (1)
The Marriage Officer shall keep all notices given under Sec. 5 with the
records of his office and shall also forthwith enter a true copy of
every such notice in a book prescribed for that purpose, to be called
the Marriage Notice Book, and such book shall be open for inspection at
all reasonable times, without fee, by any person desirous of inspecting
the same.
(2)
The Marriage Officer shall cause every such notice to be published by
affixing a copy thereof to some conspicuous place in his office.
(3)
Where either of the parties to an intended marriage is not permanently
residing within the local limits of the district of the Marriage Officer
to whom the notice has been given under Sec. 5, the Marriage Officer
shall also cause a copy of such notice to be transmitted to the Marriage
Officer of the districtwithin whose limits such party is permanently
residing, and that Marriage Officer shall thereupon cause a copy thereof
to be affixed to some conspicuous place in his office.
7. Objection to marriage.- (1)
Any person may, before the expiration of thirty days from the date on
which any such notice has been published under sub-section
(2)
of Sec. 6, object to the marriage on the ground that it would
contravene one or more of the conditions specified in Sec.4.(2)After the
expiration of thirty days from the date on which notice of an intended
marriage has been published under sub-section (2) of Sec. 6, the
marriage may be solemnized, unless it has been previously objected to
under sub-section (1).
(3)
The nature of the objection shall be recorded in writing by the
Marriage Officer in the Marriage Notice Book, be read over and explained
if necessary, to the person making the objection and shall be signed by
him or on his behalf.
8. Procedure on receipt of objection.- If
an objection is made under Sec. 7 to an intended marriage the Marriage
Officer shall not solemnize the marriage until he has inquired into the
matter of the objection and is satisfied that it ought not to prevent
the solemnization of the marriage or the objection is withdraw by the
person making it; but the Marriage Officer shall not take more than
thirty days from the date of the objection for the purpose of inquiring
into the matter of the objection and arriving at a decision.
(2)
If the Marriage Officer upholds the objection and refuses to solemnize
the marriage, either party to the intended marriage may, within a period
of thirty days from the date of such refusal, prefer an appeal to
the District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the
Marriage Officer has his office, and the decision of the District Court
on such appeal shall be final, and the Marriage Officer shall act in
conformity with the decision of the Court.
9. Powers of Marriage Officers in respect of inquiries.- (1)For
the purpose of any inquiry under Sec.8, the Marriage Officer shall have
all the powers vested in a Civil Court under the Code of
CivilProcedure, 1908(5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the
following matters, namely:
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath;
(b) discovery and inspection;
(c) compelling the production of documents;
(d) reception of evidence on affidavits; and(e) issuing commissions for
the examination of witnesses;and any proceeding before the Marriage
Officer shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning
of Sec.193 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1960).
2)
If it appears to the Marriage Officer that the objection made to an
intended marriage is not reasonable and has not been made in good faith
he may impose on the person objecting costs, by way of compensation not
exceeding one thousand rupees, and award the whole, or any part thereof
to the parties to the intended marriage, and any order of costs so made
may be executed in the same manner as a decree passed by the District
Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Marriage Officer
has his office.
10. Procedure on receipt of objection by Marriage Officer abroad.-
Where
an objection is made under Sec.7 to a Marriage Officer in the State of
Jammu and Kashmir in respect of an intended marriage in the State and
the Marriage Officer, after making such inquiry into the matter as he
thinks fit, entertains a doubt in respect thereof, he shall not
solemnize the marriage but shall transmit the record with such statement
respecting the matter as he thinks fit to the Central Government, and
the Central Government, after making such inquiry into the matter and
after obtaining such advice as it thinks fit, shall give its decision
thereon in writing to the Marriage Officer shall act in conformity with
the decision of the Central Government.
11. Declaration by parties and witnesses.- Before
the marriage is solemnized the parties and three witnesses shall, in
the presence of the Marriage Officer, sign a declaration in the Form
specified in the Third Schedule to this Act, and the declaration shall
be countersigned by the Marriage Officer.
12. Place and form of solemnization.- (1)
The marriage may be solemnized at the office of the Marriage Officer or
at such other place within a reasonable distance therefrom as the
parties may desire, and upon such conditions and the payments of such
additional fees as may be prescribed.
(2) The marriage may be solemnized in any form which the parties may
choose to adopt:Provided that it shall not be complete and binding on
the parties unless each party says to the other in the presence of the
Marriage Officer and the three witnessess and in any language understood
by the parties,- "I
(A) take thee
(B), to be my lawful wife (or husband)".
13. Certificate of marriage.- (1)
When the marriage has been solemnized the Marriage Officer shall enter a
certificate thereof in the Form specified in the Fourth Schedule in a
book to be kept by him for that purpose and to be called the Marriage
Certificate Book and such certificate shall be signed by the parties to
the marriage and the three witnesses.
(2)
On a certificate being entered in the Marriage Certificate Book by the
Marriage Officer, the certificate shall be deemed to be conclusive
evidence of the fact that a marriage under this Act has been solemnized
and that all formalities respecting the signatures of witnesses have
been complied with.
14. New notice when marriage not solemnized within three months.- Whenever
a marriage is not solemnized within three calender months from the date
on which notice thereof has been given to the Marriage Officer as
required by Sec. 5 or where an appeal has been filed under sub-section
(2) of Sec.8, within three months from the date of the decision of the
District Court on such appeal or where the record of a case has been
transmitted to the Central Government under Sec.10, within three months
from the date of decision of the Central Government, the notice and all
other proceedings arising therefrom shall be deemed to have lapsed, and
no marriage Officer shall solemnize the marriage until a new notice has
been given in the manner laid down in this Act.
CHAPTER III Registration of Marriage Celebrated in other forms
15. Registration of marriages celebrated in other forms.-
Any
marriage celebrated, whether before or after the commencement of this
Act, other than a marriage solemnized under the Special Marriage Act,
1872 or under this Act, may be registered under this Chapter by a
Marriage Officer in the territories to which this Act extends if the
following conditions are fulfilled, namely:
(a) a ceremony of marriage has been performed between the parties and
they have been living together as husband and wife ever since
(b) neither party has at the time of registration more than one spouse living;
(c) neither party is an idiot or a lunatic at the time of registration:
(d) the parties have completed the age of twenty-one year at the time of registration;
(e) the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited
relationship:Provided that in case of a marriage celebrated before the
commencement of this Act, this condition shall be subject to any law,
custom or usage having the force of law governing each of them which
permits of a marriage between the two; and
(f) the parties have been residing within the district of the Marriage
Officer for a period of not less than thirty days immediately preceding
the date on which the application is made to him for registration of the
marriage.
16. Procedure for registration.- Upon
receipt of an application signed by both the parties to the marriage
for the registration of their under this chapter, the Marriage Officer
shall give public notice thereof in such manner as may be prescribed and
after allowing a period of thirty days for objection and after hearing
any objection received within that period, shall, if satisfied that all
the conditions mentioned in Sec. 15 are fulfilled, enter a certificate
of the marriage in the Marriage Certificate Book in the Form specified
in the Fifth Schedule and such certificate shall be signed by the
parties to the marriage and by three witnesses.
17. Appeals from orders under Sec. 16.- Any
person aggrieved by any order of a Marriage Officer refusing to
register a marriage under this Chapter may, within thirty days from the
date of order, appeal against that order to the District Court within
the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Marriage Officer has his
office, and the decision of the District Court on such appeal shall be
final, and the Marriage Officer to whom the application was made shall
act in conformity with such decision.
18. Effect of registration of marriage under this Chapter.- Subject
to the provisions contained in sub-section (2) of Sec.24 where a
certificate of marriage has been finally entered in the Marriage
Certificate Book under this Chapter, the marriage shall, as from the
date of such entry, be deemed to be a marriage solemnized under this
Act, and all children born after the date of the ceremony of marriage
(whose names shall also be entered in the Marriage Certificate Book)
shall in all respects be deemed to be and always to have been the
legitimate children of their parents:
Provided
that nothing contained in this section shall be construed as conferring
upon any such children any rights in or to the property of any person
other than their parents in any case where, but for the passing of this
Act, such children would have been incapable of possessing or acquiring
any such rights by reason of their not being the legitimate children of
their parents.
CHAPTER IV Consequences of Marriage under this Act
19. Effect of marriage on member of undivided family- The
marriage solemnized under this Act of any member of an undivided family
who professes the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or Jaina religion shall be
deemed to effect his severance from such family.
20. Rights and disabilities not affected by Act.- Subject
to the provisions of Sec. 19, any person whose marriage is solemnized
under this Act, shall have the same rights and shall be subject to the
same disabilities in regard to the right of succession to any property
as a person to whom the Caste Disabilities Removal Act, 1850 (21 of
1850), applies.
21. Succession to property of parties married under Act.-
Notwithstanding
any restrictions contained in the Indian Succession Act,1925 (39 of
1925), with respect to its application to members of certain
communities, succession to the property of any person whose marriage is
solemnized under this Act and to the property of the issue of such
marriage shall be regulated by the provisions of the said Act and for
the purposes of this section that Act shall have effect as if Chapter
III of Part V (Special Rules for Parsi Intestates) had been omitted
therefrom.
21-A. Special provision in certain cases .- Where
the marriage is solemnized under this Act of any person who professes
the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or Jain religion with a person who professes
the Hindu, Buddhish, Sikh or Jain religion. Secs. 19 and 21 shall not
apply and so much of Sec. 20 as creates a disability shall also not
apply.
CHAPTER V
Restitution of Conjugal Rights and Judicial Separation
22. Restitution of conjugal rights.- When
either the husband or the wife has, without reasonable excuse,
withdrawn from the society of the other the aggrieved party may apply by
petition to the District Court for restitution of conjugal rights, and
the Court, on being satisfied of the truth of the statements made in
such petition, and that there is no legal ground why the application
should not be granted, may decree restitution of conjugal rights
accordingly.Explanation- Where a question arises whether there has been
reasonable excuse for withdrawal from the society, the burden of proving
reasonable excuse shall be on the person who has withdrawn from the
society.
23. Judicial separation.- (1) A Petition for judicial separation may be presented to the District Court either by the husband or the wife.-
(a)
on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (1) and sub-section
(1-A) of Sec. 27 on which a petition for divorce might have been
presented;or
(b) on the grounds of failure to comply with a decree for restitution of
conjugal rights and the Court, on being satisfied of the truth of the
statements made in such petition, and that there is no legal ground why
the application should not be granted, may decree judicial separation
accordingly.
(2)
Where the Court grants a decree for judicial separation, it shall be no
longer obligatory for the petitioner to cohabit with the respondent,
but the Court may, on the application by petition of either party and on
being satisfied of the truth of the statements made in such petition
rescind the decree if it considers it just and reasonable to do so.
CHAPTER VI
Nullity of Marriage and Divorce
24. Void marriages.- (1)
Any marriage solemnized under this Act shall be null and void (and may,
on a petition presented by either party thereto against the other
party, be so declared) by a decree of nullity if-(i) any of the
conditions specified in Cls.(a),(b), (c) and (d) of Sec. 4 has not been
fulfilled : or(ii) the respondent was impotent at the time of the
marriage and at the time of the institution of the suit.
(2)
Nothing contained in this section shall apply to any marriage deemed to
be solemnized under the Act within the meaning of Sec. 18, but the
registration of any such marriage under Chapter III may be declared to
be of no effect if the registration was in contravention of any of the
conditions specified in Cls.(a) to (e) of Sec. 15:Provided that no such
declaration shall be made in any case where an appeal has been preferred
under Sec.17 and the decision of the District Court has become final.
25. Voidable marriages.- Any marriage solemnized under this Act shall be voidable and may be annulled by a decree of nullity, if-
(i) the marriage has not been consummated owing to the wilful refusal of the respondent to consummate the marriage ;or
(ii) the respondent was at the time of the marriage pregnant by some person other than the petitioner; or
(iii) the consent of either party to the marriage was obtained by
coercion or fraud, as defined in the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (9 of
1872):Provided that in the case specified in Cl.(ii) the Court shall not
grant a decree unless it is satisfied-
(a) that the petitioner was at the time of the marriage ignorant of the facts alleged;
(b) that proceedings were instituted within a year from the date of the marriage; and
(c) the marital intercourse with the consent of the petitioner has not
taken place since the discovery by the petitioner of existence of the
grounds a decree : Provided further that in the case specified in
Cl.(iii), the Court shall not grant a decree if,-(a) proceedings have
not been instituted within one year after the coercion had ceased or, as
the case may be, the fraud had been discovered; or
(b)
the petitioner has with his or her free consent lived with the other
party to the marriage as husband and wife after the coercion had ceased
or as the case may be, the fraud had been discovered.
26. Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages.-
(1)
Notwithstanding that a marriage is null and void under Sec. 24, any
child of such marriage who would have been legitimate if the marriage
had been valid, shall be legitimate, whether such child is born before
or after the commencement of the Marriage Laws(Amendment) Act, 1976, and
whether or not a decree of nullity is granted in respect of that
marriage under this Act and whether or not the marriage is held to be
void otherwise than on a petition under this Act.
(2)
Where a decree of nullity is granted in respect of a voidable marriage
under Sec.25, any child begotten or conceived before the decree is made,
who would have been the legitimate child of the parties to the marriage
if at the date of the decree it has been dissolved instead of being
annulled, shall be deemed to be their legitimate child notwithstanding
the decree of nullity.
(3)
Nothing contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be
construed as conferring upon any child of a marriage which is null and
void or which is annulled by a decree of nullity under Sec. 25, any
rights in or to the property of any person, other than the parents, in
any case, where, but for the passing of this Act, such child would have
been incapable of possessing or requiring any such rights by reason of
his not being the legitimate child of his parents.
27. Divorce.- (1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the rules made thereunder,
a petition for divorce may be presented to the District Court either by
the husband or the wife on the ground that the respondent-
(a)
has, after the solemnization of the marriage had voluntary sexual
intercourse with any person other than his or her spouse; or
(b)
has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of not less than
two years immediately proceeding the presentation of the petition; or
(c)
is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for seven years or more for an
offence as defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860); or
(d) has since the solemnization of the marriage treated the petitioner with cruelty; or
(e)
has been incurably of unsound mind, or has been suffering continuously
or intermittently from mental disorder of such a kind, and to such an
extent that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with
the respondent.Explanation- In this Clause- (a) the expression "mental
disorder" means mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of
mind, psychopathic disorder or any other disorder or disability of mind
and includes schizophrenia;(b) the expression "psychopathic disorder"
means a persistent disorder or disability of mind (whether or not
including sub-normality of intelligence) which results in abnormally
aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the
respondent and whether or not it requires or is susceptible to medical
treatment; or
(f) has been suffering from venereal disease in a communicable form; or
(g) has been suffering from leprosy, the disease not having been contracted from the petitioner; or
(h)
has not been heard of as being alive for a period of seven years or
more by those persons who would naturally have heard of the respondent
if the respondent had been alive;Explanation- In this sub-section, the
expression "desertion" means desertion of the petitioner by the other
party to the marriage without reasonable cause and without the consent
or against the wish of such party and includes the wilful neglect of the
petitioner by the other party to the marriage, and its grammatical
variations and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.(1-A) A
wife may also present a petitioner for divorce to the District Court on
the ground.-
(i)
that her husband has, since the solemnization of the marriage, been
guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality;(ii) that in a suit under Sec. 18
of the Hindus Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (78 of 1956), or in a
proceeding under Sec. 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
1974), or under the corresponding Sec. 488 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), a decree or order, as the case may be, has
been passed against the husband awarding maintenance to the wife
notwithstanding that she was living apart and that since the passing of
such decree or order, cohabitation between the parties has not been
resumed for one year or upwards.(2) Subject to the provisions of the Act
and to the Rules made thereunder, either party to a marriage, whether
solemnized before or after the commencement of the Special Marriage
(Amendment) Act, 1970, may present a petition for divorce to the
District Court on the ground-(i) that there has been no resumption of
cohabitation as between the parties to the marriage for a period of one
year or upwards after the passing of a decree for judicial separation in
a proceeding to which they were parties; or(ii) that there has been no
restitution of conjugal rights as between the parties to the marriage
for a period of one year or upwards after the passing of a decree for
restitution of conjugal rights in a proceeding to which they were
parties.
27-A. Alternate relief in divorce proceedings- In
any proceeding under this Act, on a petition for a dissolution of
marriage by a decree of divorce, except in so far as the petition is
founded on the ground mentioned in Cl. (h) of sub-section (1) of Sec.
27, the Court may, if it considers it just so to do, having regard to
the circumstances of the case, pass instead a decree for judicial
separation.
28. Divorce by mutual consent.- (1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the rules made thereunder,
a petition for divorce may be presented to the District Court by both
the parties together on the ground that they have been living separately
for a period of one year or more, that they have not been able to live
together and that they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be
dissolved.
(2)
On the motion of both the parties made not earlier than six months
after the date of the presentation of the petition referred to in
sub-section (1) and not later than eighteen months after the said date,
if the petition is not withdrawn in the meantime, the District Court
shall, on being satisfied, after hearing the parties and after making
such inquiry as it thinks fit, that a marriage has been solemnized under
this Act and that the avertments in the petition are true, pass a
decree declaring the marriage to be dissolved with effect from the date
of the decree.
29. Restriction on petitions for divorce during first three years after marriage.- (1)
No petition for divorce shall be presented to the District Court unless
at the date of the presentation of the petition one year has passed
since the date of entering the certificate of marriage in the Marriage
Certificate Book:Provided that the District Court may, upon application
being made to it allow a petition to be presented before one year has
passed on the ground that the case is one of exceptional hardship
suffered by the petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the part of
the respondent, but if it appears to the District Court at the hearing
of the Petition that the petitioner obtained leave to present the
petition by any misrepresentation or concealment of the nature of the
case, the District Court may, if it pronounces a decree, do so subject
to the condition that the decree shall not have effect until after the
expiry of one year from the date of the marriage or may dismiss the
petition, without prejudice to any petition, which may be brought after
the expiration of the said one year upon the same or substantially the
same facts, as those proved in support of the petition so dismissed.
(2)
In disposing of any application under this section for leave to present
a petition for divorce before the expiration of one year from the date
of the marriage, the District Court shall have regard to the interests
of any children of the marriage, and to the question whether there is a
reasonable probability of a reconciliation between the parties before
the expiration of the said one year.
30.
Re-marriage of divorced persons- Where a marriage has been dissolved by
a decree of divorce, and either there is no right of appeal against the
decree or if there is such a right of appeal, the time for appealing
has expired without an appeal having been presented or an appeal has
been presented but has been dismissed, either party to the marriage may
marry again.
CHAPTER VII
Jurisdiction and Procedure
31. Court to which petition should be made.- (1)
Every petition under Chapter V or Chapter VI shall be presented to the
District Court within the local limits of whose original civil
jurisdiction:-
(i) the marriage was solemnized; or
(ii)the respondent, at the time of the presentation of the petition resides; or
(iii) the parties to the marriage last resided together; or
(iv) the petitioner is residing at the time of the presentation of the
petition, in a case where the respondent is, at that time, residing
outside the territories to which this Act extends or has not been heard
of as being alive for a period of seven years by those who would
naturally have heard of him if he was alive.
(2) Without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable by the Court under sub-section
(1),
the District Court may, by virtue of this sub-section, entertain a
petition by a wife domiciled in the territories to which this Act
extends for nullity of marriage or for divorce if she is resident in the
said territories and has been ordinarily resident , therein for a
period of three years immediately preceding the presentation of the
petition and the husband is not resident in the said territories.
32. Contents and verification of petitions.- (1)
Every petition under Chapter V or Chapter VI shall state, as distinctly
as the nature of the case permits, the facts on which the claim to
relief is founded and shall also state that there is no collusion
between the petitioner and the other party to the marriage.
(2)
The statements contained in every such petition shall be verified by
the petitioner or some other competent person in the manner required by
law for the verification of plaints and may, at the hearing, be referred
to as evidence.
33. Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published.- (1)
Every proceeding under this Act shall be conducted in camera and it
shall not be lawful for any person to print or publish any matter in
relation to any such proceeding except a judgment of the High Court or
of the Supreme Court printed or published with the previous permission
of the Court.
(2)
If any person prints or publishes any matter in contravention of the
provisions contained in sub-section (1), he shall be punishable with
fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
34. Duty of Court in passing decrees.- (1) In any proceeding under Chapter V or Chapter VI, whether defended or not, if the Court if satisfied that,-
(a) any of the grounds for granting relief exists; and
(b) where the petition is founded on the ground specified in Cl.(a) of
sub-section (1) of Sec. 27, the petitioner has not in any manner been
accessory to or connived at or condoned the act of sexual intercourse
referred to therein or where the ground of the petition is cruelty, the
petitioner has not in any manner condoned the cruelty; and
(c) when divorce is sought on the ground of mutual consent, such consent
has not been obtained by force, fraud or undue influence; and
(d) the petition is not presented or prosecuted in collusion with the respondent; and
(e) there has not been any unnecessary or improper delay in instituting the proceedings; and
(f) there is no other legal ground why the relief should not be granted;
then, and in such a case, but not otherwise, the Court shall decree
such relief accordingly
.(2)
Before proceeding to grant any relief under this Act it shall be the
duty of the Court in the first instance, in every case where it is
possible so to do consistently with the nature and circumstances of the
case, to make every endeavour to bring about a reconciliation between
the parties :Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall
apply to any proceeding wherein relief is sought on any of the grounds
specified in Cls.(c), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of sub-section (1) of
Sec.27.(3) For the purpose of aiding the Court in bringing about such
reconciliation, the Court may, if the parties so desire or if the Court
thinks it just and proper so to do, adjourn the proceedings for a
reasonable period not exceeding fifteen days, and refer the matter to
any person named by the parties in this behalf or to any person
nominated by the Court if the parties fail to name any person, with
directions to report to the Court as to whether reconciliation can be
and has been effected and the Court shall in disposing of the proceeding
have due regard to the report.(4) In every case where a marriage is
dissolved by a decree of divorce, the Court passing the decree shall
give a copy thereof free of cost to each of the parties.
35. Relief for respondent in divorce and other proceedings.-- In
any proceeding for divorce or judicial separation or restitution of
conjugal rights, the respondent may not only oppose the relief sought on
the ground of petitioner's adultery, cruelty or desertion, but also
make counter-claim for any relief under this Act on that ground, and if
the petitioner's adultery, cruelty or desertion is proved, the Court may
give to the respondent any relief under this Act to which he or she
would have been entitled if he or she had presented a petition seeking
such relief on that ground.
36. Alimony pendente lite.-- Where
in any proceeding under Chapter V or Chapter VI it appears to the
District Court that the wife has no independent income sufficient for
her support and the necessary expenses of the proceeding, it may, on the
application of the wife, order the husband to pay to her the expenses
of the proceeding, and weekly or monthly during the proceeding such sum
as having regard to the husband's income, it may seem to the Court to be
reasonable.
37. Permanent alimony and maintenance.-- (1)
Any Court exercising jurisdiction under Chapter V or Chapter VI may, at
the time of passing any decree or at any time subsequent to the decree,
on application made to it for the purpose, order that the husband shall
secure to the wife for her maintenance and support, if necessary, by a
charge on the husband's property, such gross sum or such monthly or
periodical payment of money for a term not exceeding her life, as having
regard to her own property, if any, her husband's property and ability,
the conduct of the parties and other circumstances of the case it may
seem to the Court to be just.
(2)
If the District Court is satisfied that there is a change in the
circumstances of either party at any time after it has made an order
under sub-section (1), it may at the instance of either party, vary,
modify or rescind any such order in such manner as it may seem to the
Court to be just.
(3)
If the District Court is satisfied that the wife in whose favour an
order has been made under this section has remarried or is not leading a
chaste life, it may, at the instance of the husband vary, modify or
rescind any such order and in such manner as the Court may deem just.
38. Custody of children.-- In
any proceeding under Chapter V or Chapter VI the District Court may,
from time to time, pass such interim orders and make such provisions in
the decree as it may seem to it to be just and proper with respect to
the custody, maintenance and education of minor children, consistently
with their wishes wherever possible, and may, after the decree, upon
application by petition for the purpose, make, revoke, suspend or vary,
from time to time, all such orders and provisions with respect to the
custody, maintenance and education of such children as might have been
made by such decree or interim orders in case the proceeding for
obtaining such decree were still pending.
39. Appeals from decrees and orders.-- (1)
All decrees made by the Court in any proceeding under Chapter V or
Chapter VI shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), be
appealable as decrees of the Court made in the exercise of its original
civil jurisdiction, and such appeal shall lie to the Court to which
appeals ordinarily lie from the decisions of the Court given in the
exercise of its original civil jurisdiction.
(2)
Orders made by the Court in any proceeding under this Act under Sec.37
or Sec.38 shall subject to the provisions of Sub-section (3), be
appealable if they are not interim orders, and every such appeal shall
lie to the Court to which appeals ordinarily lie from the decisions of
the Court given in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction.
(3)
There shall be no appeal under this section on the subject of the costs
only.(4) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a
period of thirty days from the date of the decree or order.
39-A. Enforcement of decrees and orders.-- All
decrees and orders made by the Court in any proceeding under Chapter V
or Chapter VI shall be enforced in the like manner as the decrees and
orders of the Court made in the exercise of its original civil
jurisdiction for the time being are enforced.
40. Application of Act 5 of 1908.-- Subject
to the other provisions contained in this Act, and to such rules as the
High Court may make in this behalf, all proceedings under this Act
shall be regulated, as far as may be, by the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908.
40-A. Power to transfer petitions in certain cases.-- (1)
Where--(a) a petition under this Act has been presented to the District
Court having jurisdiction by a party to the marriage praying for a
decree for judicial separation under Sec.23 or for a decree of divorce
under Sec.27, and(b) another petition under this act has been presented
thereafter by the other party to the marriage praying for decree for
judicial separation under Sec.23, or for decree of divorce under Sec.27
on any ground whether in the same District Court or in a different
District Court, in the same State or in a different State.the petition
shall be dealt with as specified in sub-section
(2).(2)
In a case where sub-section (1) applies.--(a) if the petitions are
presented to the same District Court, both the petitions shall be tried
and heard together by that District Court :(b) if the petitions are
presented to different District Courts the petition presented later
shall be transferred to the District Court in which the earlier petition
was presented and both the petitions shall be heard and disposed of
together by the District Court in which the earlier petition was
presented.
(3)
In a case where Cl. (b) of sub-section (2) applies, the Court or the
Government, as the case may be, competent under the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), to transfer any suit or proceeding from the
District Court in which the later petition has been presented to the
District Court in which the earlier petition is pending shall exercise
its powers to transfer such later petition as if it had been empowered
so to do under the said Code.
40-B. Special provision relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the Act.- (1)
The trial of a petition under this Act shall so far as is practicable
consistently with the interests of justice in respect of the trial, be
continued from day to day until its conclusion, unless the Court finds
the adjournment of the trial beyond the following day to be necessary
for reasons to be recorded.
(2)
Every petition under this Act shall be tried as expeditiously as
possible and endeavour shall be made to conclude the trial within six
months from the date of service of notice of the petition on the
respondent.
(3)
Every appeal under this Act shall be heard as expeditiously as
possible, and endeavour shall be made to conclude the hearing within
three months from the date of service of notice of appeal on the
respondent.
40-C. Documentary evidence.-- Notwithstanding
anything contained in any enactment to the contrary, no document shall
be inadmissible in evidence in any proceeding at the trial of a petition
under this Act on the ground that it is not duly stamped or registered.
41. Power of High Court to make rules regulating procedure.-- (1)
The High Court shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, make
such rules consistent with the provisions contained in this Act and the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), as it may consider expedient
for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of Chapters V, VI
and VII.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, such rules shall provide for.--
(a) the impleading by the petitioner of the adulterer as a co-respondent
on a petition for divorce on the ground of adultery, and the
circumstances in which the petitioner may be excused from doing so:
(b) the awarding of damages against any such co-respondent,
(c) the intervention in any proceeding under Chapter V or Chapter VI by any person not already a party thereto :
(d) the form and contents of petitions for nullity of marriage or for
divorce and the payment of costs incurred by parties to such petitions ;
and
(e) any other matter for which no provision or no sufficient provision
is made in this Act, and for which provision is made in the Indian
Divorce Act, 1869 (4 of 1869).
42. Saving.-- Nothing
contained in this Act shall affect the validity of any marriage not
solemnized under its provisions; not shall this Act be deemed directly
or indirectly to affect the validity of any mode of contracting
marriage.
43. Penalty on married person marrying again under this Act.-- Save
as otherwise provided in Chapter III, every person who, being at the
time married procures a marriage of himself or herself to be solemnized
under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence under Sec.
494 or Sec. 495 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 (45 of 1860), as the case
may be, and the marriage so solemnized shall be void.
44. Punishment of bigamy.-- Every
person whose marriage is solemnized under this Act and who, during the
lifetime of his or her wife or husband, contracts any other marriage
shall be subject to the penalties provided in Secs.494 and 495 of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860) for the offence of marrying again
during the lifetime of a husband of wife, and the marriage so contracted
shall be void.
45. Penalty for signing false declaration or certificate.-- Every
person making, signing or attesting any declaration or certificate
required by or under this Act containing a statement which is false and
which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be
true shall be guilty of the offence described in Sec.199 of the Indian
Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).
46. Penalty for wrongful action of Marriage Officer.-- Any
Marriage Officer who knowingly and willfully solemnizes a marriage
under this Act,--(1) without publishing a notice regarding such marriage
as required by Sec.5 ; or(2) within thirty days of the publication of
the notice such marriage; or(3) in contravention of any other provision
contained in this Act, shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a
term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to
five hundred rupees, or with both.
47. Marriage Certificate Book to be open to inspection-- (1)
The Marriage Certificate Book kept under this Act shall at all
reasonable times be open for inspection and shall be admissible as
evidence of the statements therein contained.
(2)
Certified extracts from the Marriage Certificate Book shall, on
application, be given by the Marriage Officer to the applicant on
payment by him of the prescribed fee.
48. Transmission of copies of entries in marriage records.-- Every
Marriage Officer in a State shall send to Registrar-General of Births,
Deaths and Marriages of that State at such intervals and in such form as
may be prescribed, a true copy of all entries made by him in the
Marriage Certificate Book since the last of such intervals, and in the
case of Marriage Officers outside the territories to which this Act
extends, the true copy shall be sent to such authority as the Central
Government may specify in this behalf.
49. Correction of errors.-- (1)
Any Marriage Officer who discovers any error in the form or substance
of any entry in the Marriage Certificate Book may, within one month next
after the discovery of such error, in the presence of the persons
married, or in case of their death or absence, in the presence of two
other credible witnesses, correct the error by entry in the margin
without any alteration of the original entry and shall sign the marginal
entry and add thereto the date of such correction and the Marriage
Officer shall make the like marginal entry in the certificate thereof.
(2) Every correction made under this section shall be attested by the witnesses in whose presence it was made.
(3)
Where a copy of any entry has already been sent under Sec. 48 to the
Registrar-General or other authority the Marriage Officer shall make and
send in the like manner a separate certificate of the original
erroneous entry and of the marginal corrections therein made.
50. Power to make rules.-- (1)
The Central Government, in the case of officers of the Central
Government, and the State Government, in all other cases, may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Act.
(2)
In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters,
namely:
(a) the duties and powers of Marriage Officers and the areas in which they may exercise jurisdiction;
(b) the manner in which a Marriage Officer may hold inquiries under this Act and the procedure therefore:
(c) the form and manner in which any books required by or under this Act shall be maintained:
(d) the fees that may be levied for the performance of any duty imposed upon a Marriage Officer under this Act;
(e) the manner in which public notice shall be given under Sec. 16:
(f) the form in which, and the intervals within which, copies of entries
in the Marriage Certificate Book shall be sent in pursuance of Sec.48:
(g) any other matter which may be or requires to be prescribed.
(3)
Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid,
as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament,
while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be
comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if,
before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or
the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any
modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not
be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified
form, or be of no effect as the case may be; so, however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of
anything previously done under that rule.
(4) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as it is made, before the State Legislature.
51. Repeals and savings.- (1)
The Special Marriage Act, 1872 (3 of 1872), and any law corresponding
to the Special Marriage Act, 1872, in force in any Part B State
immediately before the commencement of this Act are hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal.
-(a) all marriages duly solemnized under Special Marriage Act, 1872 (3
of 1872) or any such corresponding law shall be deemed to have been
solemnized under this Act
:(b) all suits and proceeding in causes and matters matrimonial which,
when this Act comes into operation, are pending in any Court shall be
dealt with and decided by such Court, so far as may be, as if they had
been originally instituted therein under this Act.
(3)
The provisions of sub-section (2) shall be without prejudice to the
provisions contained in Sec. 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of
1897) which shall also apply to the repeal of the corresponding law as
if such corresponding law had been an enactment.
THE FIRST SCHEDULE
(See Sec.2 (b))
Degree of Prohibited Relationship
1. Mother
2. Father's widow (step-mother)/
3. Mother's mother
4. Mother's father's widow (step grand-mother)
5. Mother's mother's mother
6. Mother's mother's father's widow (step-great-grandmother)
7. Mother's father's mother
8. Mother's father's father's widow (step-great-grandmother)
9. Father's mother
10. Father's father's widow (step-grandmother)
11. Father's mother's mother
12. Father's mother's father's widow (step-great-grandmother)
13. Father's father's mother14. Father's father's father's widow (step-great-grandmother)
15. Daughter
16. Son's widow
17. Daughter's daughter
18. Daughter's son's widow
19. Son's daughter
20. Son's son's widow
21. Daughter's daughter's daughter
22. Daughter's daughter's son's widow
23. Daughter's son's daughter
24. Daughter's son's son's widow
25. Son's daughter's daughter
26. Son's daughter's son's widow
27. Son's son's daughter
28. Son's son's son's widow
29. Sister
30. Sister's daughter
31. Brother's daughter
32. Mother's sister
33.Father's sister
34. Father's brother's daughter
35. Father's sister's daughter
36. Mother's sister's-daughter
37. Mother's brother's daughterExplanation.- For the purposes of this Part, the expression "widow" includes a divorced wife.
PART II
1. Father
2. Mother's husband (step-father)
3. Father's father
4. Father's mother's husband (step-grandmother)
5. Father's father's father
6. Father's father's mother's husband (step-great-grandfather)
7. Father's mother's father
8. Father's mother's mother's husband (step-great-grandfather)
9. Mother's father
10. Mother's mother's husband (step-grandfather)
11. Mother's father's father
12. Mother's father's mother's husband (step-great-grandfather)
13. Mother's mother's father
14. Mother's mother's mother's husband(step-great-grandfather)
15. Son
16. Daughter's husband
17. Son's son
18. Son's daughter's husband
19. Daughter's son
20. Daughter's daughter's husband
21. Son's son's son
22. Son's son's daughter's husband
23. Son's daughter's son
24. Son's daughter's daughter's husband
25. Daughter's son's son
26. Daughter's son's daughter's husband
27. Daughter's daughter's son
28. Daughter's daughter's daughter's husband
29. Brother
30. Brother's son
31. Sister's son
32. Mother's brother
33. Father's brother
34. Father's brother's son
35. Father's sister's son
36. Mother's sister's son
37. Mother's brother's son
Explanation- for the purposes of this Part, the expression "husband' includes a divorced husband.
