Special Marriage Act, 1954

Henry Sumner Maine first introduced Act III of 1872, which would permit any dissenters to marry whomever they chose 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.[3] 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.[4]

The Special Marriage Act, 1954 replaced the old Act III, 1872. The new enactment had three major objectives:

1. To provide a special form of marriage in certain cases,
2. to provide for registration of certain marriages and,
3. to provide for divorce.[5]

1. Any person, irrespective of religion.[6]
2. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists,Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, or Jews can also perform marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.[6]
3. Inter-religion marriages are performed under this Act.[6]
4. This Act is applicable to the entire territory of India and extends to intending spouses who are both Indian nationals living abroad.[6]
5. Indian national living abroad.

The marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a civil contract. There is no need for rites or wedding ceremonies.[7]

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 to the filing.[8]

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.[8]

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.[8] A marriage certificate is issued directly by the Registrar of Marriage appointed by the Govt. of India.

1. Each party involved should have no other subsisting valid marriage. In other words, the resulting marriage should be monogamous for both parties.[8]
2. The groom must be at least 21 years old; the bride must be at least 18 years old.[8]
3. 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.[8]
4. The parties should not fall within the degree of prohibited relationship.[9]

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.[10] 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.

• Dowry law in India