India is a democratic country and is filled with diversities, people of different castes and religions are find here so they have different needs and requirements to live a peaceful life and for that our law makers had decided to give them rights which will never ruin this unity and diversity of people of this beautiful country. Special marriage act- 1954 is one of such acts made for people of secular India. This act gives permission of inter-caste and inter-religion marriages to any adult (Boy 21+ and Girl 18+)
SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT -1954
This Act deals with inter-caste and inter-religion marriages. Inter caste marriage is a marriage between people belonging to two different caste. Gone are the days when people used to marry blindly whenever their parents decided them to. Now the youth has its own saying and choice and they prefer getting married to someone who has a better compatibility with them rather than marrying someone who belong to their caste or their religion. It is them who have to live with their partner for the entire life and thus caste or religion is not a matter of utmost consideration at all now. Love is a beautiful emotion and it should not be weighed with something like caste or religion. All religion are equal and marriage amongst it should not be a big deal. Caste or religion is conferred on us by birth and not by choice, than why are people of lower caste are seen with shame and distain? India is a diverse country and things like this happens here, is a thing of pity. Thus, the special marriage act is a special legislation that was enacted to provide for a special form of marriage, by registration where the parties to the marriage are not required to renounce his/her religion.
WHERE THIS ACT CAN BE APPLICABLE?
This act covers marriages among Hindu, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists. This act applies to every state of India. This act extends not only to Indian citizens belonging to different castes and religions but also to the Indian nationals living abroad.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
Marriages in India take place with great pomp and show and extravagant celebrations with proper rituals and ceremonies. But this act does not have any such requirements. All it requires is consent of both the parties to the marriage. For marriage under this act the parties need to file a notice expressing their intention to marry each other to Marriage registrar of the district. At least one of the parties to the marriage has to resided for at least 30 days from the date on which the notice has been filed. The marriage is then said to be solemnized after the expiry of 30 days from the the on which the such notice has been published. But if any person related to the parties has any objection and Registrar finds it reasonable objection then he can cancel the marriage. So consent of both the parties in front of Marriage officer is very important and three witnesses are also required.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
- Conditions are not very different from other normal marriages, which happen within the caste:-
- Age of bridegroom must be at least 21 and the bride must be 18 years old (soon this is going to be 21 years even for girls and this change in law is in process).
- Both the parties should be monogamous (unmarried).
- The parties should be mentally fit and must be sane at the time of marriage.
- They should not be related through blood relationship.