Section List

Act Number: 43

Act Name: The Special Marriage Act, 1954

Year: 1954

Enactment Date: 1954-10-09

Long Title: An Act to provide a special form of marriage in certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce.

Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice

Department: Legislative Department

Section NumberTitleActions
1 Short title, extent and commencement.
2 Definitions.
3 Marriage Officers.
4 Conditions relating to solemnization of special marriages.
5 Notice of intended marriage.
6 Marriage Notice Book and publication.
7 Objection to marriage.
8 Procedure on receipt of objection.
9 Powers of Marriage Officers in respect of inquiries.
10 Procedure on receipt of objection by Marriage Officer abroad.
11 Declaration by parties and witnesses.
12 Place and form of solemnization.
13 Certificate of marriage.
14 New notice when marriage not solemnized within three months.
15 Registration of marriages celebrated in other forms.
16 Procedure for registration.
17 Appeals from orders under section 16.
18 Effect of registration of marriage under this Chapter.
19 Effect of marriage on member of undivided family.
20 Rights and disabilities not affected by Act.
21 Succession to property of parties married under Act.
21A Special provision in certain cases.
22 Restitution of conjugal rights.
23 Judicial separation.
24 Void marriages.
25 Voidable marriages.
26 Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages.
27 Divorce.
27A Alternative relief in divorce proceedings.
28 Divorce by mutual consent.
29 Restriction on petitions for divorce during first one year after marriage.
30 Remarriage of divorced persons.
31 Court to which petition should be made.
32 Contents and verification of petitions.
33 Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published.
34 Duty of court in passing decrees.
35 Relief for respondent in divorce and other proceedings.
36 Alimony pendente lite.
37 Permanent alimony and maintenance.
38 Custody of children.
39 Appeals from decrees and orders.
39A Enforcement of decrees and orders.
40 Application of Act 5 of 1908.
40A Power to transfer petitions in certain cases.
40B Special provisions relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the Act.
40C Documentary evidence.
41 Power of High Court to make rules regulating procedure.
42 Saving.
43 Penalty on married person marrying again under this Act.
44 Punishment of bigamy.
45 Penalty for signing false declaration or certificate.
46 Penalty for wrongful action of Marriage Officer.
47 Marriage Certificate Book to be open to inspection.
48 Transmission of copies of entries in marriage records.
49 Correction of errors.
50 Power to make rules.
51 Repeals and savings.
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