Hindu Marriage Act 1955

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is enacted to amend and codify the law relating to marriage among Hindus. The following are the salient features of the Hindu Marriage Act ,1955.

1.The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 was enacted by Parliament.

2.The Act received the assent of the President of India in 18/5/4955

3.The Act came into force on 18/5/4955

4.The Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir

Section 2 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 expressly mention the person to whom the Act is applicable S.2(1) reads as follows:

The Act applies:

a) To any person who is a Hindu by religion

b) To Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo Samaj or Arya Samaj

c) To any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion

d) To any other person domiciled in the territories to which the Act extends (the act extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir) and who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion.

The following persons are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs by religion and the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 is applicable to them.

i) Any child, legitimate or illegitimate, both of whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jain or Sikhs by religion.

ii) Any child, legitimate or illegitimate, one of whose parents is a Hindu Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion and Who is brought up as a member of the tribe, community, group or family to which such parent belongs or belonged

iii) Any person who is a convert or reconvert to the Hindu, Buddhist or Jaina or Sikh religion

The act will also apply to a Hindu who is outside the territory of India, if he or she is a Hindu domiciled (domicile-permanent residence) in India. More details >>