The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
An Act to amend and codify the law relating to marriage among Hindus.
Administered by. Ministry of Law and Justice, Legislative Department · Other Acts of 1955
Preamble
THE HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955
ACT NO. 25 OF 19551
[18th May, 1955.] An act to amend and codify the law relating to marriage among Hindus.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Act No. 25 of 1955) was enacted to codify and reform the law relating to marriage among Hindus. It provides a comprehensive legal framework governing the solemnization of Hindu marriages, matrimonial rights and obligations, judicial separation, divorce, maintenance, and the legitimacy of children.
Key Provisions
• Applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, and to other persons to whom the Act is made applicable, subject to its provisions.
• Prescribes the essential conditions for a valid marriage, including:
o Monogamy.
o Soundness of mind of both parties.
o Minimum marriageable age prescribed by law.
o Absence of prohibited relationships or sapinda relationships, unless permitted by custom.
• Recognizes marriages solemnized in accordance with customary rites and ceremonies.
• Provides for the registration of Hindu marriages.
• Prescribes grounds for void and voidable marriages.
• Provides for restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, and divorce on specified grounds such as cruelty, desertion, conversion, incurable mental disorder, renunciation, and presumed death, among others.
• Provides for interim maintenance, permanent alimony, child custody, and maintenance during matrimonial proceedings.
• Declares children born of void and voidable marriages to be legitimate, subject to the provisions of the Act.
• Confers jurisdiction on family courts and other competent courts to adjudicate matrimonial disputes.
Sections
Type to filter. 37 sections.
- 1Short title and extent
- 2Application of Act
- 3Definitions
- 4Overriding effect of Act
- 5Conditions for a Hindu marriage
- 6[Omitted.]
- 7Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage
- 8Registration of Hindu marriages
- 9Restitution of conjugal right
- 10Judicial separation
- 11Void marriages
- 12Voidable marriages
- 13Divorce
- 13AAlternate relief in divorce proceedings
- 13BDivorce by mutual consent
- 14No petition for divorce to be presented within one year of marriage
- 15Divorced persons when may marry again
- 16Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages
- 17Punishment of bigamy
- 18Punishment for contravention of certain other conditions for a Hindu marriage
- 19Court to which petition shall be presented
- 20Contents and verification of petitions
- 21Application of Act 5 of 1908
- 21APower to transfer petitions in certain cases
- 21BSpecial provision relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the Act
- 21CDocumentary evidence
- 22Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published
- 23Decree in proceedings
- 23ARelief for respondent in divorce and other proceedings
- 24Maintenance pendente lite and expenses of proceedings
- 25Permanent alimony and maintenance
- 26Custody of children
- 27Disposal of property
- 28Appeals from decrees and orders
- 28AEnforcement of decrees and orders
- 29Savings
- 30[Repealed.]
Amending Acts
3 Acts amending this enactment, passed by Parliament of India. The text above is the consolidated text as published.
- The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 200325 of 2003
- The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 200125 of 2001
- The Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Act, 195625 of 1956
Rules made under this Act
33 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Assigning jurisdiction to Civil Judge, Senior Division Gangapur for Hindu Marriage Act matters within Gangapur limits.2025
- Assigning jurisdiction to Civil Judge, Senior Division Hingoli and Basmat for matters relating to Hindu Marriage Act within local limits of its original jurisdiction.2025
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Katol, District Nagpur2025
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division at Junnar, Pune District as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2025
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division in Sinnar, Nashik as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2025
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Indapur, Pune as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2025
- Specifying the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division at Nashik-road, in Nashik District as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2025
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Daund, District Pune2024
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Sillod, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar2024
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Igatpuri, District Nashik2023
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Karjat, District Ahmednagar2023
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Mahad, District Raigad-Alibag2023
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Mangaon, District Raigad-Alibag2023
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Sinnar, District Nashik2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge , Senior Division at Belapur, Navi Mumbai, District Thane2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge , Senior Division at Karmala, District Solapur2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Ausa, District Latur2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Kallam, District Osmanabad2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Mangrulpir, District Washim2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Ramtek, District Nagpur2023
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Umarked, District Yavatmal2023
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Igatpuri, Nashik as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2023
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Madha, Solapur as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2023
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Wai, Satara as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2023
- Specifying, the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division at Sinnar in Nashik District, as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2023
- Specifying the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division), Vadgaon in tehsil Maval Pune District as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2022
- Establishment of Court of Additional District Judge, Ambad District Jalna2021
- Establishment of Civil Court Senior Division at Vita, District Sangli2020
- Specifying jurisdiction of Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Rahata, Ahmednagar District as having jurisdiction in respect of the matters to be dealt with under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.2019
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Chalisgaon, District Jalgaon2018
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Malkapur, District Buldhana2018
- Establishment of Civil Judge Senior Division Court at Hinganghat, District Wardha2017
- The High Court of Jharkhand Hindu Marriage Rules, 20172017
Related Acts
- The Manipur (Courts) Act, 195546 sections
- The Special Marriage Act, 195457 sections
- The High Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Act, 195440 sections
- The Faridabad Development Corporation Act, 195636 sections
- The Hindu Succession Act, 195631 sections
- The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 195630 sections
- The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 195613 sections
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 19562 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 37 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.