The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is an important piece of legislation in India that governs marriage and divorce among Hindus. It outlines the conditions for a valid Hindu marriage, rights and duties of spouses, and the grounds for divorce and judicial separation. The Act consists of six comprehensive chapters, each dealing with distinct aspects of matrimonial law and procedure.
Key Features of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- Conditions for Marriage: Codifies essential requirements such as monogamy, sound mind, age of consent, and prohibited degrees of relationship.
- Restitution of Conjugal Rights: Enables either spouse to seek judicial decree for restitution if the other spouse has withdrawn without reasonable excuse.
- Judicial Separation: Provides an interim recourse where spouses may live separately without immediate dissolution of the marital bond.
- Nullity and Divorce: Clear categorization of void and voidable marriages, alongside fault grounds (cruelty, desertion, adultery) and mutual consent divorce.
- Maintenance & Custody: Safeguards financial security via permanent alimony, maintenance pendente lite, and orders for children’s custody.
The Hindu Marriage Act establishes an equitable legal framework to safeguard individual rights, maintain marital sanctity, and provide structured judicial recourse.
All Chapters in Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Select any chapter below to explore its sections, provisions, and legal interpretations.
Complete Chapter Overview Table
| Chapter No. | Chapter Title | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Preliminary (Sections 1–4) | Read Chapter 1 → |
| Chapter 2 | Hindu Marriages (Sections 5–8) | Read Chapter 2 → |
| Chapter 3 | Restitution of Conjugal Rights & Judicial Separation (Sections 9–10) | Read Chapter 3 → |
| Chapter 4 | Nullity of Marriage & Divorce (Sections 11–18) | Read Chapter 4 → |
| Chapter 5 | Jurisdiction and Procedure (Sections 19–28A) | Read Chapter 5 → |
| Chapter 6 | Savings and Repeals (Sections 29–30) | Read Chapter 6 → |
All 30 Sections of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955
Sec. 1 – 30
Sec. 1 Short title and extent →
Sec. 2 Application of Act →
Sec. 3 Definitions →
Sec. 4 Overriding effect of Act →
Sec. 5 Conditions for a Hindu marriage →
Sec. 6 [Omitted.] →
Sec. 7 Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage →
Sec. 8 Registration of Hindu marriages →
Sec. 9 Restitution of conjugal right →
Sec. 10 Judicial separation →
Sec. 11 Void marriages →
Sec. 12 Voidable marriages →
Sec. 13 Divorce →
Sec. 14 No petition for divorce to be presented within one year of marriage →
Sec. 15 Divorced persons when may marry again →
Sec. 16 Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages →
Sec. 17 Punishment of bigamy →
Sec. 18 Punishment for contravention of certain other conditions for a Hindu marriage →
Sec. 19 Court to which petition shall be presented →
Sec. 20 Contents and verification of petitions →
Sec. 21 Application of Act 5 of 1908 →
Sec. 22 Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published →
Sec. 23 Decree in proceedings →
Sec. 24 Maintenance pendente lite and expenses of proceedings →
Sec. 25 Permanent alimony and maintenance →
Sec. 26 Custody of children →
Sec. 27 Disposal of property →
Sec. 28 Appeals from decrees and orders →
Sec. 29 Savings →
Sec. 30 [Repealed.] →