Chapter II§5–8
Hindu Marriages
How a Hindu marriage is validly made. §5 lays down the five conditions (no living spouse, sound mind, prescribed age — 21 for groom, 18 for bride — outside prohibited relationship and sapinda). §6 (guardianship) was omitted in 1978. §7 saves customary rites including the Saptapadi, and §8 lets States set up a Hindu Marriage Register and even make registration compulsory, while clarifying that omission to register does not invalidate the marriage.
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Conditions for a Hindu marriage
Five conditions for a valid Hindu marriage — neither party has a living spouse; both are of sound mind and fit for marriage; bridegroom 21, bride 18; not within prohibited degrees; not sapindas (unless custom permits the last two).
A marriage may be solemnized between any two Hindus, if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:— (i) neither party has a spouse living at the time of the marriage; (ii) at the time of the marriage, neither party— (a) is incapable of giving a valid consent to it in consequence of unsoundness of mind; or (b) though capable of giving a valid consent, has been suffering from mental disorder of such a kind or to such an extent as to be unfit for marriage and the procreation of children; or (c) has been subject to recurrent attacks of insanity; (iii) the bridegroom has completed the age of twenty-one years and the bride, the age of eighteen years at the time of the marriage; (iv) the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits of a marriage between the two; (v) the parties are not sapindas of each other, unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits of a marriage between the two.
[Guardianship in marriage]
Omitted by the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1978 with effect from 1 October 1978 — the requirement of a guardian's consent went out with the higher age of marriage.
[Guardianship in marriage.]—Omitted by the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1978, (2 of 1978), s. 6 and Schedule (w.e.f. 1-10-1978).
Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage
A Hindu marriage may be solemnised by the customary rites of either party; where the Saptapadi (seven steps before the sacred fire) is part of the rite, the marriage is complete when the seventh step is taken.
(1) A Hindu marriage may be solemnized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party thereto.
(2) Where such rites and ceremonies include the Saptapadi (that is, the taking of seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken.
Registration of Hindu marriages
States may set up a Hindu Marriage Register and may even make registration compulsory (fine up to ₹25 on default); the Register is admissible evidence, but non-registration does not invalidate the marriage.
(1) For the purpose of facilitating the proof of Hindu marriages, the State Government may make rules providing that the parties to any such marriage may have the particulars relating to their marriage entered in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in a Hindu Marriage Register kept for the purpose.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may, if it is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, provide that the entering of the particulars referred to in sub-section (1) shall be compulsory in the State or in any part thereof, whether in all cases or in such cases as may be specified, and where any such direction has been issued, any person contravening any rule made in this behalf shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees.
(3) All rules made under this section shall be laid before the State Legislature, as soon as may be, after they are made.
(4) The Hindu Marriage Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection, and shall be admissible as evidence of the statements therein contained and certified extracts therefrom shall, on application, be given by the Registrar on payment to him of the prescribed fee.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the validity of any Hindu marriage shall in no way be affected by the omission to make the entry.