| Short Title: | The Special Marriage Act, 1954 |
| Long Title: | An Act to provide a special form of marriage on certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce. |
| Citation: | No.43 of 1954 |
| Enacted By: | Parliament of India |
| Date Assented: | 9 October 1954 |
| Date Commenced: | 1 January 1955 |
| Status: | in force |
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage (or "registered marriage") for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrelevant of the religion or faith followed by either party.[1] The Act originated from a piece of legislation proposed during the late 19th century. Marriages solemnized under Special Marriage Act are not governed by personal laws.[2]
Henry Sumner Maine first introduced Act III of 1872, which would permit any dissenters to marry whomever they chose under a new civil marriage law. In the final wording, the law sought to legitimize marriages for those willing to renounce their profession of faith altogether ("I do not profess the Hindu, Christian, Jewish, etc. religion"). It can apply in inter-caste and inter-religion marriages.[3] The Bill faced opposition from local governments and administrators, who believed that it would encourage marriages based on lust, which would inevitably lead to immorality.[4]
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 replaced the old Act III, 1872. The new enactment had three major objectives:
The marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a civil contract. There is no need for rites or wedding ceremonies.[8]
The parties have to file a Notice of Intended Marriage on a specified form to the Marriage Registrar of the district in which one of the parties resides. The party must have resided there for at least thirty days immediately preceding the filing.[9]
The notice is published and a thirty-day waiting period is required during which objections may be raised to the marriage. At the conclusion of the waiting period, the marriage may be solemnised at a specified Marriage Office.
Marriage is solemnised by each party declaring "I, (A), take thee (B), to be my lawful wife (or husband)," in the presence of the Marriage Officer and three witnesses. A marriage certificate is issued directly by the Registrar of Marriage appointed by the Govt. of India.
Succession to the property of person married under this Act or customary marriage registered under this Act and that of their children, are governed by Indian Succession Act.[11] However, if the parties to the marriage are Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or Jain religion, the succession to their property will be governed by Hindu succession Act.
The Supreme Court of India, in 2006, made it required to enroll all relational unions. In India, a marriage can either be enlisted under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The Hindu Marriage Act is pertinent to Hindus, though the Special Marriage Act is appropriate to all residents of India regardless of their religion applicable at Court marriage.
See main article: articles and Supriyo v. Union of India. The petition requested the Supreme Court to recognise the marriage between any two persons, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, and declare the notice and objection provisions as void, by enforcing the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.[12] [13]
Nikesh P.P. &</abbr> Sonu M.S filed a petition with Kerala High Court on 24 January 2020. Dr Kavita Arora &</abbr> Ankita Khanna filed a petition with Delhi High Court on 8 October 2020 and they were joined by other petitioners over the course of time. On 6 January 2023, their petitions were transferred to Supreme Court to be heard along with Supriyo v. Union of India (2023).[14] [15] Additionally, most of the petitioners challenged the notice and objection provisions of the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act of 1969 which hurt vulnerable minorities.