Registration of Hindu marriages
Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 deals with registration of Hindu marriages. For the purpose of facilitating the proof of Hindu marriages, the State Government may make rules providing that the parties to any such marriage may have the particulars relating to their marriage entered in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in a Hindu Marriage Registe The Act came into force on 18 May 1955.
(1) For the purpose of facilitating the proof of Hindu marriages, the State Government may make rules providing that the parties to any such marriage may have the particulars relating to their marriage entered in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in a Hindu Marriage Register kept for the purpose.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may, if it is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, provide that the entering of the particulars referred to in sub-section (1) shall be compulsory in the State or in any part thereof, whether in all cases or in such cases as may be specified, and where any such direction has been issued, any person contravening any rule made in this behalf shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees.
(3) All rules made under this section shall be laid before the State Legislature, as soon as may be, after they are made.
(4) The Hindu Marriage Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection, and shall be admissible as evidence of the statements therein contained and certified extracts therefrom shall, on application, be given by the Registrar on payment to him of the prescribed fee.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the validity of any Hindu marriage shall in no way be affected by the omission to make the entry.
Section 8, The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Act 25 of 1955).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Gullipilli Sowria Raj vs Bandaru Pavani @ Gullipili Pavani
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The Hindu Marriage Act 1955, by its Preamble and Section 2, applies exclusively to marriages among Hindus. A marriage between a Hindu and a person professing a different faith such as Christianity cannot be solemnized as a valid Hindu marriage under the Act. The conditions specified in Section 5 of the Act are mandatory, not optional - the word 'may' in opening words indicates that a marriage may be solemnized between 'any two Hindus' if conditions are fulfilled, meaning failure to fulfill conditions precludes a valid marriage. Where one party is not Hindu, a valid Hindu marriage cannot be solemnized under the Act. Registration of such a marriage under Section 8 does not validate a fundamentally void marriage.
On this section: Pertains to registration of marriages; registration cannot validate a marriage that is void ab initio
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Vikram Aditya Singh & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2006-10-11 (order-1.pdf) — brief flags document date verified; body dated October 11, 2006. Delhi Hindu Marriage Registration Rules Form A cl.7(vi) (30-day residency of party/parent) read down as ultra vires s.8 and contrary to Seema v Ashwani Kumar: registration is for facilitating proof of marriage solemnized in the State; cannot be denied merely because parties/parents are non-residents when marriage was solemnized in Delhi. Directed registration within 15 days.
On this section: s.8 Registration of Hindu marriages — State rules under s.8 cannot add residency conditions that defeat registration of marriages solemnized in the State.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 8
What have the courts held on Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act?
Gullipilli Sowria Raj vs Bandaru Pavani @ Gullipili Pavani (04 Dec 2008) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Pertains to registration of marriages; registration cannot validate a marriage that is void ab initio. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2006 to 2008.
How do I find court cases under Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Hindu Marriage Act 8, section 8 Hindu Marriage Act, section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act. People searching for it also type hma 8m dem. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Gullipilli Sowria Raj vs Bandaru Pavani @ Gullipili Pavani (04 Dec 2008).
When did Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act come into force?
Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act, cited as Hindu Marriage Act 8, came into force on 18 May 1955, having been enacted on 18 May 1955. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 13. Divorce913 words
- 3. Definitions499 words
- 23. Decree in proceedings465 words
- 12. Voidable marriages361 words
- 2. Application of Act302 words
- 14. No petition for divorce to be presented within one year of marriage290 words
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. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.