The institution of marriage binds two individuals for ever. India is a secular nation where citizens have the right to choose any religion they wish. India has different laws regarding marriage. Let’s take a look at Indian religious laws that govern marriage and marriage registration.
The Hindu Marriage Act 1955
There are some conditions to fulfill before marriage in India is allowed under the Hindu court marriage and Hindu Hindu marriage rules.
Persons getting married should not be married and have no living spouse.
For a woman, the legal age is 18 and for a male is 21.
Both parties must maintain their sanity and be able to consent to the marriage.
They must be mentally healthy to marry. They must not have any mental illness.
The bride and the groom shouldn’t be’sapindas” of one another, unless it’s allowed by their respective religious laws
1954 Special Marriage Act
Indian citizens are subject to the special marriage laws, regardless of their caste, religion, or culture. The Act allows people of different religions, castes, or communities to marry, provided that certain conditions are met.
To solemnize a marriage, it is mandatory to register in India. To complete Indian marriage registration, a family lawyer may be hired
- Both the bride and the groom must be at least 18 years old.
- Both must have sound minds
The bride and the groom must not have common ancestors. According to the Act, 37 relationships are prohibited. No wedding can be held between them.
Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872
The Act states that the solemnization takes place in the presence priests, clergymen, or ministers in a Church and according to the regulations of the Indian Christians community. These are the conditions for a Christian marriage to be valid:
- The minimum age for bridegrooms and brides should be 21 and 18 respectively
- Both the bride and the groom must consent to be married. They are free to do so without any compulsion.
- The spouses should not have a partner from any previous marriage.
Both spouses must be healthy
Marriage must be performed in front of at least two trusted witnesses, and before a registry of marriage. This person has the license and authority for India to register and issue marriage certificates.