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INDIAN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ACT, 1872
1. Short title
[Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938]
Interpretation clause
PART I
PERSONS BY WHOM MARRIAGES MAY BE SOLEMNIZED 4. Marriages to be solemnized according to Act
5. Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized
6. Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages
7. Marriage Registrars
8. Marriage Registrars in Indian States
9. Licensing of persons to grant certi cates of marriage between Indian Christians
PART II TIME AND PLACE AT WHICH MARRIAGES MAY BE SOLEMNIZED 10. Time for solemnizing marriage
11. Place for solemnizing marriage
PART III
PART IV
REGISTRATION
CONTENTS
35. Copies of certi cates to be entered and numbered 20
36. Registrar to add number of entry to certi cate, and send to Registrar General 20
37. Registration of marriages between Indian Christians by persons referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of section 5 21
PART V
MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED BY, OR IN THE PRESENCE OF, A MARRIAGE REGISTRAR
38. Notice of intended marriage before-Marriage Registrar 21
39. Publication of notice 23
40. Notice to be led and copy entered in Marriage Notice Book 23
41. Certi cate of notice given and oath made 23
42. Oath before issue of certi cate 25
43. Petition to High Court to order certi cate in less than fourteen days 25
44. Consent of father or guardian 26
45. Petition where person whose consent is necessary is insane, or unjustly withholds consent 27
46. Petition when Marriage Registrar refuses certi cate 28
47. [Repealed by the Adaptation of Laws Order 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950] 29
48. Petition when Registrar doubts authority of person forbidding 29
49. Liability for frivolous protest against issue of certi cate 29
50. Form of certi cate 30
51. Solemnization of marriage after issue of certi cate 30
52. When marriage not held within two months after notice, new notice required 31
53. Marriage Registrar may ask for particulars to be registered 32
54. Registration of marriages solemnized under Part V 32
55. Certi cate to be sent monthly to Registrar-General 33
56. [Repealed by the Adaptation of Laws Order 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950] 34
57. Registrars to ascertain that notice and certi cate are understood by Indian Christians 34
58. Indian Christians to be made to understand declarations 35
59. Registration of marriages between Indian Christians 35
PART VI
MARRIAGE OF INDIAN CHRISTIANS
60. On what conditions marriages of Indian Christians may be certi ed 36
61. Grant of certi cate 37
62. Keeping of register-book and deposit of extracts therefrom with Registrar-General 38
63. Searches in register-book and copies of entries 38
64. Books in which marriages of Indian Christians under Part I or Part III are registered 38
65. Part VI not to apply to Roman Catholics 38
PART VII PENALTIES
66. False oath, declaration, notice or certi cate for procuring marriage 39
67. Forbidding by false personation, issue of certi cate by Marriage Registrar 39
68. Solemnizing marriage without due authority 40
69. Solemnizing marriage out of proper time, or without witnesses 41
70. Solemnizing without notice or within fourteen days after notice, marriage with minor 42
71. Issuing certi cate, or marrying, without publication of notice 42
72. Issuing certi cate after expiry of notice, or, in case of minor, within fourteen days after notice, or against authorized prohibition 44
73. Persons authorized to solemnize marriage (other than Clergy of Churches of England, Scotland or Rome) 45
74. Unlicensed person granting certi cate pretending to be licensed 46
75. Destroying or falsifying register-books 46
76. Limitation of prosecutions under Act 47
PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
77. What matters need not be proved in respect of marriage in accordance with Act 48
78. Corrections or errors 48
79. Searches and copies of entries 49
CONTENTS
80. Certi ed copy of entry in marriage-register, etc., to be evidence 49
81. Certi cates of certain marriages to be sent to Central Government 50
82. State Government to prescribe fees 50
83. Power to make rules 51
84. [Omitted by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950] 51
85. Power to declare who shall be District Judge 51
86. [Omitted by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950] 51
87. Saving of Consular marriages 51
88. Non-validation of marriages within prohibited degrees 51
SCHEDULE I: Notice of Marriage
SCHEDULE II: Certi cate of Receipt of Notice
SCHEDULE III: Form of Register of Marriages
SCHEDULE V: [Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938]
Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872
[15 OF 1872]
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages of Christians. Preamble.
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages of persons professing the Christian religion; It is hereby enacted as follows:—
PRELIMINARY
Short title.
1. This Act may be called the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 18721 Extent.
2[It extends to the whole of India 3[except 4[the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in the States] of Travancore-Cochin, Manipur and 5[***]].]
Commencement.—[Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1874:]
6[Provided that nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the Renoncants of the Union territory of Pondicherry.]
1. Dated 18-7-1872.
2. Substituted by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950. Prior to substitution, second paragraph as amended by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937 and the Indian Independence (Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances) Order, 1948.
Note : The Act does not extend to the State of Manipur vide Act 30 of 1950, as amended by Act 68 of 1956; The Act has been extended to and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Laws) Regulation, 1963, w.e.f. 1-7-1965.
3. Substituted for “except Part B States” by the Part B States (Laws) Act, 1951, w.e.f. 1-4-1951.
4. Substituted for “the States” by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, w.e.f. 1-11-1956.
5. Words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, w.e.f. 31-10-2019.
6. Inserted by the Pondicherry (Extension of Laws) Act, 1968, w.e.f. 24-5-1968.
S. 3
INDIAN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ACT, 1872 2
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
1.1 Short title of the Act
In legal documents, cases, and references, this Act will be referred to simply as the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872.
1.2 Extent of application
“It extends to the whole of India”.
1.2-1 Exception
The Act does not apply to the territories that, as of 1st November 1956, were part of the States of Travancore-Cochin, Manipur, and certain other areas, as clarified by the exclusion clause.
Enactments repealed.
2. [Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938.] Interpretation clause.
3. In this Act unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,— “Church of England” and “Anglican” mean and apply to the Church of England as by law established; “Church of Scotland” means the Church of Scotland as by law established; “Church of Rome” and “Roman Catholic” mean and apply to the Church which regards the Pope of Rome as its spiritual head; “Church” includes any chapel or other building generally used for public Christian worship; 7[“India” means the 8[territories] to which this Act extends;] “minor” means a person who has not completed the age of twenty-one years and who is not a widower or a widow;
8a[***]
“christians” the expression “Christian” means persons professing the Christian religion; “Indian christians”.
9[and the expression “Indian Christians” includes the Christian descendants of natives of India converted to Christianity, as well as such converts;]
7. Inserted by the Part B States (Laws) Act, 1951, w.e.f. 1-4-1951.
8. Substituted for “territory comprised in the States” by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, w.e.f. 1-11-1956.
8a. Definition of “Native State” omitted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
9. Substituted by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, w.e.f. 26-1-1950.
3
INDIAN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ACT, 1872 S. 3
9a[“Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages” means a Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages appointed under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1886 (6 of 1886).]
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
3.1 “Church of Rome” and “Roman Catholic”
These terms refer to the Roman Catholic Church, which recognizes the Pope of Rome as its spiritual head.
3.2 “Church”
The term “Church” encompasses not only large places of Christian worship but also includes any chapel or building regularly used for public Christian worship.
3.3 “Minor”
A minor is a person who: Has not yet reached the age of 21 years. Is not a widower or widow.
3.4 “Christians”
The term Christians refers to persons who profess the Christian religion.
3.5 “Indian Christians”
This term includes:
The Christian descendants of people native to India who converted to Christianity. The converts themselves (people who have converted from other religions to Christianity).
STATE AMENDMENTS
Section 3
- For the definition of “Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages”, substitute:— “Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages” means the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages appointed under the Mysore Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act, 1956. — [Vide Mysore Act No. 20 of 1956, w.e.f. 29-10-1956, read with Act No. 31 of 1973, w.e.f. 1-11-1973.]
WEST BENGAL
Section 3
- For the definition of “Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages”, substitute:— “Registrar General of Marriages means the Registrar General of Marriages of the State of West Bengal”. — [Vide West Bengal Act No. 22 of 1999.]
9a. Inserted by the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1886.
KARNATAKA
Rs. 115/-
INDIAN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ACT 1872 – BARE ACT WITH SECTION NOTES
AUTHOR : Taxmann's Editorial Board
PUBLISHER : Taxmann
DATE OF PUBLICATION : May 2025
EDITION : 2025 Edition
ISBN NO : 9789364559294
NO. OF PAGES : 72
BINDING TYPE : Paperback
DESCRIPTION
Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872 [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann is a succinct legal publication that reproduces the full, amended text of the Act. Alongside the bare act, this edition o ers concise commentary and explanatory notes on each section, making it an essential reference for readers seeking a precise understanding of Christian marriage laws in India.
This book is intended for the following audience:
• Legal Professionals
• Government O cials & Marriage Registrars
• Law Students & Academics
• Clergy & Religious Institutions
• General Readers
The Present Publication is the 2025 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Indian Christian Marriage Act [Act No. 15 of 1872], with the following noteworthy features:
• [Authoritative Text] Presents the current, consolidated law
• [Section-wise Notes] Clear annotations for each provision
• [User-friendly Layout] Bold headings, spaced text, and logical numbering
• [Periodic Updates & Amendments] Reflects both national and state-specific changes
• [Pre-amendment References] Indicates prior text in footnotes for historical context
• [Practical Aids] Tables, schedules, and o cial forms for compliance clarity
• [Subject Index] Facilitates swift topic/location searches
• [Portable Format] Handy size for easy reference
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