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Bar News Acts League

The Special Marriage Act, 1954

Act ID: 1954

The Special Marriage Act, 1954

"An Act to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party."

Table of Contents

51 Sections

Ch. IP

reliminary

S.1Short title, extent and commencement S.2Definitions S.3Marriage Officers

Ch. IIS

olemnization Of Special Marriages

S.4Conditions relating to solemnization of special marriages S.5Notice of intended marriage S.6Marriage Notice Book and publication S.7Objection to marriage S.8Procedure on receipt of objection S.9Powers of Marriage Officers in respect of inquiries S.10Procedure on receipt of objection by Marriage Officer abroad S.11Declaration by parties and witnesses S.12Place and form of solemnization S.13Certificate of marriage S.14New notice when marriage not solemnized within three months

Ch. IIIR

egistration Of Marriages Celebrated In Other Forms

S.15Registration of marriages celebrated in other forms S.16Procedure for registration S.17Appeals from orders under section 16 S.18Effect of registration of marriage under this Chapter

Ch. IVCo

nsequences Of Marriage Under This Act

S.19Effect of marriage on member of undivided family S.20Rights and disabilities not affected by Act S.21Succession to property of parties married under Act

Ch. VR

estitution Of Conjugal Rights And Judicial Separation

S.22Restitution of conjugal rights S.23Judicial separation

Ch. VIN

ullity Of Marriage And Divorce

S.24Void marriages S.25Voidable marriages S.26[ Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 26 (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]S.27Divorce S.28Divorce by mutual consent S.29Restriction on petitions for divorce during first one year after marriage S.30Remarriage of divorced persons

Ch. VIIJ

urisdiction And Procedure

S.31Court to which petition should be made S.32Contents and verification of petitions S.33[ Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 33, for Section 33 (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]S.34Duty of Court in passing decrees S.35[ Relief for respondent in divorce and other proceedings [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 35, for Section 35 (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]S.36Alimony pendente lite S.37Permanent alimony and maintenance S.38Custody of children S.39[ Appeals from decrees and orders [Substituted by Act 68 of 1976, Section 37, for section 39 (w.e.f. 27.5.1976).]S.40Application of Act V of 1908 S.41Power of High Court to make rules regulating procedure

Ch. VIIIMis

cellaneous

S.42Saving S.43Penalty on married person marrying again under this Act S.44Punishment of bigamy S.45Penalty for signing false declaration or certificate S.46Penalty for wrongful action of Marriage Officer S.47Marriage Certificate Book to be open to inspection S.48Transmission of copies of entries in marriage records S.49Correction of errors S.50Power to make rules S.51Repeals and savings