Act 15 of 1872

The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages of Christians.

  • Ministry of Law and Justice
  • Legislative Department
  • Enacted 1872-07-18
  • 88 sections
SectionTitle
1 Short title. Read
2 [Repealed.]. Read
3 Interpretation-clause. Read
4 Marriages to be solemnized according to Act. Read
5 Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized. Read
6 Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages. Read
7 Marriage Registrars. Read
8 [Omitted.]. Read
9 Licensing of persons to grant certificates of marriage between Indian Christians. Read
10 Time for solemnizing marriage. Read
11 Place for solemnizing marriage. Read
12 Notice of intended marriage. Read
13 Publication of such notice. Read
14 Notice of intended marriage in private dwelling. Read
15 Sending copy of notice to Marriage Registrar when one party is a minor. Read
16 Procedure on receipt of notice. Read
17 Issue of certificate of notice given and declaration made. Read
18 Declaration before issue of certificate. Read
19 Consent of father, or guardian, or mother. Read
20 Power to prohibit by notice issue of certificate. Read
21 Procedure on receipt of notice. Read
22 Issue of certificate in case of minority. Read
23 Issue of certificates to Indian Christians. Read
24 Form of certificate. Read
25 Solemnization of marriage. Read
26 Certificate void if marriage not solemnized within two months. Read
27 Marriages when to be registered. Read
28 Registration of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of England. Read
29 Quarterly returns to Archdeaconry. Read
30 Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Rome. Read
31 Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Scotland. Read
32 Certain marriages to be registered in duplicate. Read
33 Entries of such marriages to be signed and attested. Read
34 Certificate to be forwarded to Marriages Registrar, copied and sent to Registrar General. Read
35 Copies of certificates to be entered and numbered. Read
36 Registrar to add number of entry to certificate, and send to Registrar General. Read
37 Registration of marriages between Indian Christians, by persons referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of section 5. Read
38 Notice of intended marriage before Marriage Registrar. Read
39 Publication of notice. Read
40 Notice to be filed and copy entered in Marriage Notice Book. Read
41 Certificate of notice given and oath made. Read
42 Oath before issue of certificate. Read
43 Petition to High Court to order certificate in less than fourteen days. Read
44 Consent of father or guardian. Read
45 Petition where person whose consent is necessary is insane, or unjustly withholds consent. Read
46 Petition when Marriage Registrar refuses certificate. Read
47 [Omitted.]. Read
48 Petition when Registrar doubts authority of person forbidding. Read
49 Liability for frivolous protest against issue of certificate. Read
50 Form of certificate. Read
51 Solemnization of marriage after issue of certificate. Read
52 When marriage not had within two months after notice, new notice required. Read
53 Marriage Registrar may ask for particulars to be registered. Read
54 Registration of marriages solemnized under part V. Read
55 Certificates to be sent monthly to Registrar General. Read
56 [Omitted.]. Read
57 Registrars to ascertain that notice and certificate are understood by Indian Christians. Read
58 Indian Christians to be made to understand declarations. Read
59 Registration of marriages between Indian Christians. Read
60 On what conditions marriages of Indian Christians may be certified. Read
61 Grant of certificate. Read
62 Keeping of register-book and deposit of extracts therefrom with Registrar General. Read
63 Searches in register-book and copies of entries. Read
64 Books in which marriages Indian Christians under Part I or Part III are registered. Read
65 Part VI not to apply to Roman Catholics. Read
66 False oath, declaration, notice or certificate for procuring marriage. Read
67 Forbidding, by false personation issue of certificate by Marriage Registrar. Read
68 Solemnizing marriage without due authority. Read
69 Solemnizing marriage out of proper time, or without witnesses. Read
70 Solemnizing without notice or within fourteen days after notice, marriage with minor. Read
71 Issuing certificate, or marrying, without publication of notice; Marrying after expiry of notice; Solemnizing, marriage with minor within fourteen days, without authority of Court, or without sending copy of notice; issuing certificate against authorized prohibitionRead
72 Issuing certificate after expiry of notice, or, in case of minor, within fourteen days after notice, or against authorized prohibition.Read
73 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage (other than Clergy of Churches of England, Scotland or Rome); issuing certificate, or marrying, without publishing notice, or after expiry of certificate; issuing certificate for, or solemnizing, marriage with minor, within fourteen days after notice; issuing certificate authorizedly forbidden; solemnizing marriage authorizedly forbidden;Read
74 Unlicensed person granting certificate pretending to be licensedRead
75 Destroying or falsifying register-booksRead
76 Limitation of prosecutions under ActRead
77 What matters need not be proved in respect of marriage in accordance with ActRead
78 Corrections of errors.Read
79 Searches and copies of entriesRead
80 Certified copy of entry in marriage register, etc., to be evidenceRead
81 Certificates of certain marriages to be sent to Central Government.Read
82 State Government to prescribe fees.Read
83 Power to make rulesRead
84 Omitted..Read
85 Power to declare who shall be District JudgeRead
86 Omitted.Read
87 Saving of Consular marriagesRead
88 Non-validation of marriages within prohibited degrees.Read
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