THE INDIAN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ACT, 1872

ACT NO. 15 OF 1872 · Enacted [18th July, 1872.] · 88 sections

PRELIMINARY

Section 1.Short title.

Section 2.[Repealed.].

Section 3.Interpretation-clause.

THE PERSONS BY WHOM MARRIAGES MAY BE SOLEMNIZED

Section 4.Marriages to be solemnized according to Act.

Section 5.Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized.

Section 6.Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages.

Section 7.Marriage Registrars.

Section 8.[Omitted.].

Section 9.Licensing of persons to grant certificates of marriage between Indian Christians.

TIME AND PLACE AT WHICH MARRIAGESMAY BE SOLEMNIZED

Section 10.Time for solemnizing marriage.

Section 11.Place for solemnizing marriage.

MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY MINISTERS OF RELIGIONLICENSED UNDER THIS ACT

Section 12.Notice of intended marriage.

Section 13.Publication of such notice.

Section 14.Notice of intended marriage in private dwelling.

Section 15.Sending copy of notice to Marriage Registrar when one party is a minor.

Section 16.Procedure on receipt of notice.

Section 17.Issue of certificate of notice given and declaration made.

Section 18.Declaration before issue of certificate.

Section 19.Consent of father, or guardian, or mother.

Section 20.Power to prohibit by notice issue of certificate.

Section 21.Procedure on receipt of notice.

Section 22.Issue of certificate in case of minority.

Section 23.Issue of certificates to Indian Christians.

Section 24.Form of certificate.

Section 25.Solemnization of marriage.

Section 26.Certificate void if marriage not solemnized within two months.

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY MINISTERS OF RELIGION

Section 27.Marriages when to be registered.

Section 28.Registration of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of England.

Section 29.Quarterly returns to Archdeaconry.

Section 30.Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Rome.

Section 31.Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Scotland.

Section 32.Certain marriages to be registered in duplicate.

Section 33.Entries of such marriages to be signed and attested.

Section 34.Certificate to be forwarded to Marriages Registrar, copied and sent to Registrar General.

Section 35.Copies of certificates to be entered and numbered.

Section 36.Registrar to add number of entry to certificate, and send to Registrar General.

Section 37.Registration of marriages between Indian Christians, by persons referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of section 5.

MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY, OR IN THE PRESENCE OF, A MARRIAGE REGISTRAR

Section 38.Notice of intended marriage before Marriage Registrar.

Section 39.Publication of notice.

Section 40.Notice to be filed and copy entered in Marriage Notice Book.

Section 41.Certificate of notice given and oath made.

Section 42.Oath before issue of certificate.

Section 43.Petition to High Court to order certificate in less than fourteen days.

Section 44.Consent of father or guardian.

Section 45.Petition where person whose consent is necessary is insane, or unjustly withholds consent.

Section 46.Petition when Marriage Registrar refuses certificate.

Section 47.[Omitted.].

Section 48.Petition when Registrar doubts authority of person forbidding.

Section 49.Liability for frivolous protest against issue of certificate.

Section 50.Form of certificate.

Section 51.Solemnization of marriage after issue of certificate.

Section 52.When marriage not had within two months after notice, new notice required.

Section 53.Marriage Registrar may ask for particulars to be registered.

Section 54.Registration of marriages solemnized under part V.

Section 55.Certificates to be sent monthly to Registrar General.

Section 56.[Omitted.].

Section 57.Registrars to ascertain that notice and certificate are understood by Indian Christians.

Section 58.Indian Christians to be made to understand declarations.

Section 59.Registration of marriages between Indian Christians.

MARRIAGE OF INDIAN CHRISTIANS

Section 60.On what conditions marriages of Indian Christians may be certified.

Section 61.Grant of certificate.

Section 62.Keeping of register-book and deposit of extracts therefrom with Registrar General.

Section 63.Searches in register-book and copies of entries.

Section 64.Books in which marriages Indian Christians under Part I or Part III are registered.

Section 65.Part VI not to apply to Roman Catholics.

PENALTIES

Section 66.False oath, declaration, notice or certificate for procuring marriage.

Section 67.Forbidding, by false personation issue of certificate by Marriage Registrar.

Section 68.Solemnizing marriage without due authority.

Section 69.Solemnizing marriage out of proper time, or without witnesses.

Section 70.Solemnizing without notice or within fourteen days after notice, marriage with minor.

Section 71.Issuing certificate, or marrying, without publication of notice; Marrying after expiry of notice; Solemnizing, marriage with minor within fourteen days, without authority of Court, or without sending copy of notice; issuing certificate against authorized prohibition;.

Section 72.Issuing certificate after expiry of notice, or, in case of minor, within fourteen days after notice, or against authorized prohibition.

Section 73.Persons authorized to solemnize marriage (other than Clergy of Churches of England, Scotland or Rome); issuing certificate, or marrying, without publishing notice, or after expiry of certificate; issuing certificate for, or solemnizing, marriage with minor, within fourteen days after notice; issuing certificate authorizedly forbidden; solemnizing marriage authorizedly forbidden;.

Section 74.Unlicensed person granting certificate pretending to be licensed.

Section 75.Destroying or falsifying register-books.

Section 76.Limitation of prosecutions under Act.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 77.What matters need not be proved in respect of marriage in accordance with Act.

Section 78.Corrections of errors.

Section 79.Searches and copies of entries.

Section 80.Certified copy of entry in marriage register, etc., to be evidence.

Section 81.Certificates of certain marriages to be sent to Central Government.

Section 82.State Government to prescribe fees.

Section 83.Power to make rules.

Section 84.[Omitted.].

Section 85.Power to declare who shall be District Judge.

Section 86.[Omitted.].

Section 87.Saving of Consular marriages.

Section 88.Non-validation of marriages within prohibited degrees.