An Act to provide a special form of marriage in certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 has 57 sections in 8 chapters, amended 25 times. Each link below opens the official text of that section. Official PDF on India Code.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 PDF
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Official copy of the Act from India Code (Legislative Department, Government of India).
All sections of the Special Marriage Act, 1954
Chapter I: PRELIMINARY
- Section 1 – Short title, extent and commencement
- Section 2 – Definitions
- Section 3 – Marriage Officers
Chapter II: SOLEMNIZATION OF SPECIAL MARRIAGES
- Section 4 – Conditions relating to solemnization of special marriages
- Section 5 – Notice of intended marriage
- Section 6 – Marriage Notice Book and publication
- Section 7 – Objection to marriage
- Section 8 – Procedure on receipt of objection
- Section 9 – Powers of Marriage Officers in respect of inquiries
- Section 10 – Procedure on receipt of objection by Marriage Officer abroad
- Section 11 – Declaration by parties and witnesses
- Section 12 – Place and form of solemnization
- Section 13 – Certificate of marriage
- Section 14 – New notice when marriage not solemnized within three months
Chapter III: REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES CELEBRATED IN OTHER FORMS
- Section 15 – Registration of marriages celebrated in other forms
- Section 16 – Procedure for registration
- Section 17 – Appeals from orders under section 16
- Section 18 – Effect of registration of marriage under this Chapter
Chapter IV: CONSEQUENCES OF MARRIAGE UNDER THIS ACT
- Section 19 – Effect of marriage on member of undivided family
- Section 20 – Rights and disabilities not affected by Act
- Section 21 – Succession to property of parties married under Act
- Section 21A – Special provision in certain cases
Chapter V: RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL RIGHTS AND JUDICIAL SEPARATION
- Section 22 – Restitution of conjugal rights
- Section 23 – Judicial separation
Chapter VI: NULLITY OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
- Section 24 – Void marriages
- Section 25 – Voidable marriages
- Section 26 – Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages
- Section 27 – Divorce
- Section 27A – Alternative relief in divorce proceedings
- Section 28 – Divorce by mutual consent
- Section 29 – Restriction on petitions for divorce during first one year after marriage
- Section 30 – Remarriage of divorced persons
Chapter VII: JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE
- Section 31 – Court to which petition should be made
- Section 32 – Contents and verification of petitions
- Section 33 – Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published
- Section 34 – Duty of court in passing decrees
- Section 35 – Relief for respondent in divorce and other proceedings
- Section 36 – Alimony pendente lite
- Section 37 – Permanent alimony and maintenance
- Section 38 – Custody of children
- Section 39 – Appeals from decrees and orders
- Section 39A – Enforcement of decrees and orders
- Section 40 – Application of Act 5 of 1908
- Section 40A – Power to transfer petitions in certain cases
- Section 40B – Special provisions relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the Act
- Section 40C – Documentary evidence
- Section 41 – Power of High Court to make rules regulating procedure
Chapter VIII: MISCELLANEOUS
- Section 42 – Saving
- Section 43 – Penalty on married person marrying again under this Act
- Section 44 – Punishment of bigamy
- Section 45 – Penalty for signing false declaration or certificate
- Section 46 – Penalty for wrongful action of Marriage Officer
- Section 47 – Marriage Certificate Book to be open to inspection
- Section 48 – Transmission of copies of entries in marriage records
- Section 49 – Correction of errors
- Section 50 – Power to make rules
- Section 51 – Repeals and savings