Family and Personal Law
The Special Marriage Act, 1954
Act 43 of 1954 · 57 sections
Title, date and preamble
[9th October, 1954.]
An Act to provide a special form of marriage in certain cases, for the registration of such and
certain other marriages and for divorce.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:―
Contents
CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY
CHAPTER II SOLEMNIZATION OF SPECIAL MARRIAGES
- 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
CHAPTER III REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES CELEBRATED IN OTHER FORMS
CHAPTER IV CONSEQUENCES OF MARRIAGE UNDER THIS ACT
CHAPTER V RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL RIGHTS AND JUDICIAL SEPARATION
CHAPTER VI NULLITY OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
CHAPTER VII JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE
- 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
CHAPTER VIII MISCELLANEOUS
- 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
Schedules and appendices
Schedules are not yet reproduced here. Read them in the official file; each link opens the page where the Schedule begins.