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The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872

Central

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages of Christians.

Act number
15 of 1872
Ministry
Ministry of Law and Justice
Department
Legislative Department
Enacted
18 Jul 1872
In force from
18 Jul 1872

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

88 sections

  1. Section 1Short title.
  2. Section 2[Repealed.].
  3. Section 3Interpretation-clause.
  4. Section 4Marriages to be solemnized according to Act.
  5. Section 5Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized.
  6. Section 6Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages.
  7. Section 7Marriage Registrars.
  8. Section 8[Omitted.].
  9. Section 9Licensing of persons to grant certificates of marriage between Indian Christians.
  10. Section 10Time for solemnizing marriage.
  11. Section 11Place for solemnizing marriage.
  12. Section 12Notice of intended marriage.
  13. Section 13Publication of such notice.
  14. Section 14Notice of intended marriage in private dwelling.
  15. Section 15Sending copy of notice to Marriage Registrar when one party is a minor.
  16. Section 16Procedure on receipt of notice.
  17. Section 17Issue of certificate of notice given and declaration made.
  18. Section 18Declaration before issue of certificate.
  19. Section 19Consent of father, or guardian, or mother.
  20. Section 20Power to prohibit by notice issue of certificate.
  21. Section 21Procedure on receipt of notice.
  22. Section 22Issue of certificate in case of minority.
  23. Section 23Issue of certificates to Indian Christians.
  24. Section 24Form of certificate.
  25. Section 25Solemnization of marriage.
  26. Section 26Certificate void if marriage not solemnized within two months.
  27. Section 27Marriages when to be registered.
  28. Section 28Registration of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of England.
  29. Section 29Quarterly returns to Archdeaconry.
  30. Section 30Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Rome.
  31. Section 31Registration and returns of marriages solemnized by Clergymen of Church of Scotland.
  32. Section 32Certain marriages to be registered in duplicate.
  33. Section 33Entries of such marriages to be signed and attested.
  34. Section 34Certificate to be forwarded to Marriages Registrar, copied and sent to Registrar General.
  35. Section 35Copies of certificates to be entered and numbered.
  36. Section 36Registrar to add number of entry to certificate, and send to Registrar General.
  37. Section 37Registration of marriages between Indian Christians, by persons referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of section 5.
  38. Section 38Notice of intended marriage before Marriage Registrar.
  39. Section 39Publication of notice.
  40. Section 40Notice to be filed and copy entered in Marriage Notice Book.
  41. Section 41Certificate of notice given and oath made.
  42. Section 42Oath before issue of certificate.
  43. Section 43Petition to High Court to order certificate in less than fourteen days.
  44. Section 44Consent of father or guardian.
  45. Section 45Petition where person whose consent is necessary is insane, or unjustly withholds consent.
  46. Section 46Petition when Marriage Registrar refuses certificate.
  47. Section 47[Omitted.].
  48. Section 48Petition when Registrar doubts authority of person forbidding.
  49. Section 49Liability for frivolous protest against issue of certificate.
  50. Section 50Form of certificate.
  51. Section 51Solemnization of marriage after issue of certificate.
  52. Section 52When marriage not had within two months after notice, new notice required.
  53. Section 53Marriage Registrar may ask for particulars to be registered.
  54. Section 54Registration of marriages solemnized under part V.
  55. Section 55Certificates to be sent monthly to Registrar General.
  56. Section 56[Omitted.].
  57. Section 57Registrars to ascertain that notice and certificate are understood by Indian Christians.
  58. Section 58Indian Christians to be made to understand declarations.
  59. Section 59Registration of marriages between Indian Christians.
  60. Section 60On what conditions marriages of Indian Christians may be certified.
  61. Section 61Grant of certificate.
  62. Section 62Keeping of register-book and deposit of extracts therefrom with Registrar General.
  63. Section 63Searches in register-book and copies of entries.
  64. Section 64Books in which marriages Indian Christians under Part I or Part III are registered.
  65. Section 65Part VI not to apply to Roman Catholics.
  66. Section 66False oath, declaration, notice or certificate for procuring marriage.
  67. Section 67Forbidding, by false personation issue of certificate by Marriage Registrar.
  68. Section 68Solemnizing marriage without due authority.
  69. Section 69Solemnizing marriage out of proper time, or without witnesses.
  70. Section 70Solemnizing without notice or within fourteen days after notice, marriage with minor.
  71. Section 71Issuing 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
  72. Section 72Issuing certificate after expiry of notice, or, in case of minor, within fourteen days after notice, or against authorized prohibition.
  73. Section 73Persons 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;
  74. Section 74Unlicensed person granting certificate pretending to be licensed
  75. Section 75Destroying or falsifying register-books
  76. Section 76Limitation of prosecutions under Act
  77. Section 77What matters need not be proved in respect of marriage in accordance with Act
  78. Section 78Corrections of errors.
  79. Section 79Searches and copies of entries
  80. Section 80Certified copy of entry in marriage register, etc., to be evidence
  81. Section 81Certificates of certain marriages to be sent to Central Government.
  82. Section 82State Government to prescribe fees.
  83. Section 83Power to make rules
  84. Section 84Omitted..
  85. Section 85Power to declare who shall be District Judge
  86. Section 86Omitted.
  87. Section 87Saving of Consular marriages
  88. Section 88Non-validation of marriages within prohibited degrees.