Special Marriage Act, 1954
{{short description|Indian Marriage Law}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = The Special Marriage Act, 1954
| legislature =
| image =
| imagesize = 150
| imagelink =
| imagealt =
| caption =
| long_title = An Act to provide a special form of marriage on
certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce.
| citation = [https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1387/1/A195443.pdf No.43 of 1954]
| territorial_extent =
| enacted_by = Parliament of India
| date_enacted =
| date_assented = 9 October 1954
| date_signed =
| date_commenced = 1 January 1955
| bill =
| bill_citation =
| bill_date =
| introduced_by =
| 1st_reading =
| 2nd_reading =
| 3rd_reading =
| white_paper =
| committee_report =
| amendments =
| repeals =
| related =
| summary =
| keywords =
| status = in force
}}
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an act of the Parliament of India with provision for secular civil marriage (or "registered marriage") for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrelevant of the religion or faith followed (both for inter-religious couples and also for atheists and agnostics) by either party.{{cite web |title=Special Marriage Act - Special Marriage Act 1954, Special Marriage Laws In India |url=http://weddings.iloveindia.com/indian-weddings/special-marriage-act.html |website=I Love India |access-date=March 14, 2022}} The Act originated from a piece of legislation proposed during the late 19th century. Marriages solemnized under Special Marriage Act are not governed by personal laws and are considered to be secular.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/marriages-under-special-marriage-act-not-governed-by-personal-laws/article23376912.ece|title='Marriages under Special Marriage Act not governed by personal laws'|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 March 2018}}
Background
Henry Sumner Maine first introduced Act III of 1872, which would permit any dissenters to marry whomever they choose under a new civil marriage law. In the final wording, the law sought to legitimize marriages for those willing to renounce their profession of faith altogether ("I do not profess the Hindu, Christian, Jewish, etc. religion"). It can apply in inter-caste and inter-religion marriages.{{Cite web|url=http://blog.ipleaders.in/10-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-special-marriage-act1954/|title = 10 things every Indian should know about the Special Marriage Act,1954|date = 9 December 2014}} The Bill faced opposition from local governments and administrators, who believed that it would encourage marriages based on lust, which would inevitably lead to immorality.Perveez Mody, "Love and the Law: Love-Marriage in Delhi," Modern Asian Studies 36:1 (2002): 223-256
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 replaced the old Act III, 1872. The new enactment had three major objectives:
- To provide a special form of marriage in certain cases,
- to provide for registration of certain marriages and,
- to provide for divorce.{{Cite web|title=Divorce, under the Special Marriage Act, 1954|work=valkilno1.com|url=http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/specialmarriageact/chapter6/s27.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527040941/http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/specialmarriageact/chapter6/s27.htm|archive-date=27 May 2010|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead}}
Applicability
- Any person, irrespective of religion.{{Cite web |title=Registered Marriage Under Special Marriage Act, 1954 |website=Tax4India |url=http://www.tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/registered-marriage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103145436/http://tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/registered-marriage.html |archive-date=3 January 2010 |access-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
- Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, or Jews.
- Inter-religion marriages.
- Entire territory of India and extends to intending spouses who are both Indian nationals living abroad.
- Indian national living abroad.{{cite web |title=MEA Guidance on Indians Marrying abroad |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/images/pdf/marriages-to-overseas-indians-booklet.pdf}}
- Foreign national and Indian national within India.
Procedure
The marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a civil contract. There is no need for rites or wedding ceremonies.{{Cite web |title=Place And Form Of Solemnisation, Registered Marriage |work=Tax4India |url=http://www.tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/registered-marriage-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103160338/http://tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/registered-marriage-2.html |archive-date=3 January 2010 |access-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
The parties have to file a Notice of Intended Marriage on a specified form to the Marriage Registrar of the district in which one of the parties resides. The party must have resided there for at least thirty days immediately preceding the filing.{{Cite web|title=The Special Marriage Act, 1954|work=DelhiAdvocate|url=http://delhiadvocate.tripod.com/special_marriage_act.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031021130/http://delhiadvocate.tripod.com/special_marriage_act.html|archive-date=31 October 2010|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=bot: unknown}}
The notice is published and a thirty-day waiting period is required during which objections may be raised to the marriage. At the conclusion of the waiting period, the marriage may be solemnised at a specified Marriage Office.
Marriage is solemnised by each party declaring "I, (A), take thee (B), to be my lawful wife (or husband)," in the presence of the Marriage Officer and three witnesses. A marriage certificate is issued directly by the Registrar of Marriage appointed by the Govt. of India.
Conditions for marriage
- Each party involved should have no other subsisting valid marriage. In other words, the resulting marriage should be monogamous for both parties.
- The groom must be at least 21 years old; the bride must be at least 18 years old.
- The parties should be competent in regard to their mental capacity to the extent that they are able to give valid consent for the marriage.
- The parties should not fall within the degree of prohibited relationship.{{Cite web |title=Necessary conditions for a registered marriage |website=Tax4India |url=http://www.tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/conditions.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103160325/http://tax4india.com/indian-laws/marriage-n-divorce/registered-marriage/conditions.html |archive-date=3 January 2010 |access-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
Succession to the property
Succession to the property of person married under this Act or customary marriage registered under this Act and that of their children, are governed by Indian Succession Act.http://indiankanoon.org/doc/552306/ Bombay High court judgment reported by Indian Kanoon However, if the parties to the marriage are Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or Jain religion, the succession to their property will be governed by Hindu succession Act.
The Supreme Court of India, in 2006, made it required to enroll all relational unions. In India, a marriage can either be enlisted under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The Hindu Marriage Act is pertinent to Hindus, though the Special Marriage Act is appropriate to all residents of India regardless of their religion applicable at Court marriage.
Judicial review
= Supriyo v. Union of India =
{{Main articles|Supriyo v. Union of India}}The petition requested the Supreme Court to recognise the marriage between any two persons, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, and declare the notice and objection provisions as void, by enforcing the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.{{Citation |last1=Guruswamy |first1=Menaka |title=Supriyo {{Abbr|a.k.a|also known as}} Supriya Chakraborty {{Abbr|&|and}} Abhay Dang versus Union Of India {{abbr|thr.|through}} Its Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice. |url=https://www.scobserver.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Supriyo-@-Supriya-Chakraborty-redacted.pdf |publication-date=November 14, 2022 |type=Writ Petition (Civil) |publication-place=Supreme Court of India |last2=Katju |first2=Arundhati |last3=Borthakur |first3=Shristi}}{{Citation |last1=Perumpallikuttiyil |first1=George Varghese |title=Nikesh P.P. {{Abbr|&|and}} Sonu M.S. versus Union Of India {{abbr|thr.|through}}Its Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice. |url=http://orinam.net/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pushkar-sonu.pdf |publication-date=January 24, 2020 |type=Writ Petition (Civil) |publication-place=High Court of Kerala |last2=A.R. |first2=Dileep |last3=P.J. |first3=Joe Paul |last4=Srinath |first4=Manu |last5=George |first5=Rajan G.}}{{Citation |last1=Katju |first1=Arundhati |title=Dr. Kavita Arora {{Abbr|&|and}} Ankita Khanna versus Union Of India {{abbr|thr.|through}} Its Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice. |url=http://orinam.net/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/kavita-ankita.pdf |publication-date=October 5, 2020 |type=Writ Petition (Civil) |publication-place=High Court of Delhi |last2=Dhar |first2=Surabhi}}{{Cite web |last=Deshwal |first=Puneet |date=2023-02-20 |title=Supreme Court Issues Notice In Plea Seeking Recognition Of Transgender Persons Under Special Marriage Act 1954 |url=https://www.verdictum.in/court-updates/supreme-court/notice-issued-in-plea-seeking-recognition-of-transgenders-under-special-marriage-act-1954-1463438 |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=www.verdictum.in |language=en}}{{Citation |last1=Bhatia |first1=Gautam |title=Utkarsh Saxena {{Abbr|&|and}} Ananya Kotia versus Union Of India {{abbr|thr.|through}} Its Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice. |url=https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/wp-452555.pdf |publication-date=December 15, 2022 |type=Writ Petition (Civil) |publication-place=Supreme Court of India |last2=Saxena |first2=Utkarsh |last3=Sekhri |first3=Abhinav |last4=Jain |first4=Hrishika}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-06 |title=Same-Sex Couples Already Vulnerable, Public Notice Of Intended Wedding Under Special Marriage Act A Deterrent: Plea In Supreme Court, Notice Issued |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-same-sex-couple-marriage-notice-and-objections-special-marriage-act-foreign-marriage-act-218256 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}
Nikesh P.P. & Sonu M.S filed a petition with Kerala High Court on 24 January 2020. Dr Kavita Arora & Ankita Khanna filed a petition with Delhi High Court on 8 October 2020 and they were joined by other petitioners over the course of time. On 6 January 2023, their petitions were transferred to Supreme Court to be heard along with Supriyo v. Union of India (2023).{{Cite news |date=2023-01-06 |title=Supreme Court transfers to itself all petitions on same-sex marriage |language=en |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-transfers-to-itself-all-pleas-pending-before-different-high-courts-on-recognition-of-same-sex-marriages/article66345499.ece |access-date=2023-02-13 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite court|litigants=Supriyo {{Abbr|a.k.a|also known as}} Supriya Chakraborty {{Abbr|&|and}} Abhay Dang versus Union Of India {{abbr|thr.|through}} Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice|court=Supreme Court of India|opinion={{Abbr|W.P.(C) No.|Writ Petition (Civil) Number}} 1011/2022|date=6 January 2023|url=https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2022/36593/36593_2022_1_44_40745_Order_06-Jan-2023.pdf}} Additionally, most of the petitioners challenged the notice and objection provisions of the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act of 1969 which hurt vulnerable minorities.