Family and Personal Law
The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872
Act 15 of 1872 · 88 sections
Title, date and preamble
[18th July, 1872.]
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages
of Christians.
PREAMBLE.—WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization
in India of the marriages of persons professing the Christian religion; It is hereby enacted as follows:—
Contents
PART I THE PERSONS BY WHOM MARRIAGES MAY BE SOLEMNIZED
PART II TIME AND PLACE AT WHICH MARRIAGES MAY BE SOLEMNIZED
PART III MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY MINISTERS OF RELIGION LICENSED UNDER THIS ACT
- 12.Notice of intended marriage
- 13.Publication of such notice
- 14.Notice of intended marriage in private dwelling
- 15.Sending copy of notice to Marriage Registrar when one party is a minor
- 16.Procedure on receipt of notice
- 17.Issue of certificate of notice given and declaration made
- 18.Declaration before issue of certificate
- 19.Consent of father, or guardian, or mother
- 20.Power to prohibit by notice issue of certificate
- 21.Procedure on receipt of notice
- 22.Issue of certificate in case of minority
- 23.Issue of certificates to Indian Christians
- 24.Form of certificate
- 25.Solemnization of marriage
- 26.Certificate void if marriage not solemnized within two months
PART IV REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY MINISTERS OF RELIGION
- 27.Marriages when to be registered
- 28.Registration of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of England
- 29.Quarterly returns to Archdeaconry
- 30.Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Rome
- 31.Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Scotland
- 32.Certain marriages to be registered in duplicate
- 33.Entries of such marriages to be signed and attested
- 34.Certificate to be forwarded to Marriage Registrar, copied and sent to Registrar General
- 35.Copies of certificates to be entered and numbered
- 36.Registrar to add number of entry to certificate, and send to Registrar General
- 37.Registration of marriages between Indian Christians, by persons referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of section 5
PART V MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY, OR IN THE PRESENCE OF, A MARRIAGE REGISTRAR
Order on petition
- 44.Consent of father or guardian
- 45.Petition where person whose consent is necessary is insane, or unjustly withholds consent
- 46.Petition when Marriage Registrar refuses certificate
- 47.Petition when Marriage Registrar in Indian State refuses certificate
- 48.Petition when Registrar doubts authority of person forbidding
- 49.Liability for frivolous protest against issue of certificate
- 50.Form of certificate
- 51.Solemnization of marriage after issue of certificate
- 52.When marriage not had within two months after notice, new notice required
- 53.Marriage Registrar may ask for particulars to be registered
- 54.Registration of marriages solemnized under part V
- 55.Certificates to be sent monthly to Registrar General
- 56.[Omitted]
- 57.Registrars to ascertain that notice and certificate are understood by Indian Christians
- 58.Indian Christians to be made to understand declarations
- 59.Registration of marriages between Indian Christians
PART VI MARRIAGE OF INDIAN CHRISTIANS
- 60.On what conditions marriages of [Indian] Christians may be certified
- 61.Grant of certificate
- 62.Keeping of register-book and deposit of extracts therefrom with Registrar General
- 63.Searches in register book and copies of entries
- 64.Books in which marriages of Indian Christians under Part I or Part III are registered
- 65.Part VI not to apply to Roman Catholics. Saving of certain marriages
PART VII PENALTIES
- 66.False oath, declaration, notice or certificate for procuring marriage
- 67.Forbidding, by false personation issue of certificate by Marriage Registrar
- 68.Solemnizing marriage without due authority
- 69.Solemnizing marriage out of proper time, or without witnesses
- 70.Solemnizing without notice or within fourteen days after notice, marriage with minor
- 71.Issuing certificate, or marrying, without publication of notice
- 72.Issuing certificate after expiry of notice, or, in case of minor, within fourteen days after notice, or against authorized prohibition
- 73.Persons authorized to solemnize marriage (other than Clergy of Churches of England, Scotland or Rome)
- 74.Unlicensed person granting certificate pretending to be licensed
- 75.Destroying or falsifying register-books
- 76.Limitation of prosecutions under Act
PART VIII MISCELLANEOUS
- 77.What matters need not be proved in respect of marriage in accordance with Act
- 78.Corrections of errors
- 79.Searches and copies of entries
- 80.Certified copy of entry in marriage-register, etc., to be evidence
- 81.Certificates of certain marriages to be sent to Central Government
- 82.State Government to prescribe fees
- 83.Power to make rules
- 84.Power to prescribe fees and rules for Indian States
- 85.Power to declare who shall be District Judge
- 86.Powers and functions exercisable as regards Indian States
- 87.Saving of Consular marriages
- 88.Non-validation of marriages within prohibited degrees
Schedules and appendices
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