The Indian Christian Marriage Act
The Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872 is the major legislation regulating Christian marriages in India. The Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872, initially implemented by the British-Indian government, governs marriage ceremonies among Christians in India. After the ceremony, the officiant notifies authorities and registers the marriage. The marriage is recorded, and a certificate of marriage in the couple’s name is issued by the officiant afterward. Each participant must complete an application with their local government to formalize their wish to marry.
The law
Specific criteria must be met for the marriage to be legal under the Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872. It is required that one or both of the spouses involved in the marriage be Christians, according to the Act. As a result, a union may be referred to as void and useless unless one or both of the parties participating in it are subject to different legislation that forbids such marriages on account of prohibited degrees of relationship.
Must-Have Features
According to The Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872, couples must fulfill the following criteria to have a valid wedding.
- During a birthday party, the groom’s age should not be less than 21 years old, and the bride’s age should not be less than 18 years old.
- The marriage may not be performed without the consent of both parties, and it should not be obtained by deception or under duress or undue influence.
- At the time of their wedding, neither party should be married to anyone else.
- In the United States, a marriage must be witnessed by at least two individuals authorized to issue marriage certificates and preside over the wedding ceremony.
You’ll need the following items:
To register a marriage under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, both spouses need to submit their documents.
- An application form that is completed with accurate information.
- The judge needs to see photographs of both spouses. They should be passport-sized and show each person’s face.
- The official marriage certificate from the Minister or the Priest who conducted the ceremony.
- The wedding rituals, which include the marriage ceremony and a variety of other customs, were documented in two photographs by G. Albert Brown (1832-1921), along with an Invitation to the Wedding.
- A complete set of documents that includes a wedding certificate (Residence proof and Proof of Age of both the spouses)
- A document that attests to the mental state and marital status of both parties.
Those Who May Conduct a Wedding Ceremony
The following persons are allowed to solemnize a Christian wedding under the Indian Christian Marriage Act:
- According to the laws, rites, ceremonies and customs of the Church, he is allowed to perform marriages if ordained by a bishop.
- A Church of Scotland Clergyman is authorized to solemnize a marriage under the provisions, rites, ceremonies and customs of the Scottish Church.
- By a Minister of Religion with a license authorized by the Act to solemnize marriages.
- Any individual licensed under Indian law may officiate Christian marriages.
Marriage Registrar Rules
According to the Act, certain conditions must be met by the Marriage Registrar for them to officiate a marriage ceremony. If these conditions are not met, the Registrar will be unable to perform the wedding.
Notice of Intent to Marry
One or both parties must submit a written application or notice of the intended marriage to the Marriage Registrar to notify them of their intention to get married.
Register your pledge
One of the people getting married must appear before the Marriage Registrar to get a certificate of notice. They should make the following pledge:
- There are no legal or natural hurdles to the impending marriage.
- In the district where you are registered to marry
The marriage cannot go ahead without the consent of one of the persons listed below if either party is a minor.
- If the minor’s father is alive and well.
- If the author Guardian of the Minor is available.
- If no one else is allowed to consent on behalf of the minor, the Mother of the Minor resides in the nation.
Certificate of Eligibility
After either party to an impending marriage takes the vow before a Marriage Registrar, a Certificate of Notice is issued. Four days after the pledge is taken, if no one objects to the union, The Registrar has the authority to grant permission for the ceremony by issuing a certificate that includes information about where it will take place- such as at church or in a chapel.
The Overall Success of the Marriage
Indian Christians follow the Indian Christian Marriage Act, which dictates that a Christian Marriage is conducted with specific rituals designated by the Minister or Priest to officiate the wedding. Two eligible witnesses other than the minister or priest performing the marriage are required at a marriage ceremony.
Timing and Location
The Indian Christian Marriage Act lays out the specific times and locations in which a Christian marriage can take place. The ceremony must be scheduled between 6 am and 7 pm, and it can occur at a church or chapel.
Registering a marriage
To register the marriage, both parties must fill out and apply to the appropriate authority in charge. The wedding will be registered by the Marriage Registrar, who officiated during the ceremony and recorded all pertinent information in the Marriage Register.
Editing and Proofreading
Anyone who discovers an error in the marriage entry form or substance of marriage registration must notify the registry. Within one month, the authorized individual should make any necessary modifications. When two people marry, their two credible witnesses, or if a participant is dead or absent, the mistake must be fixed before anyone married, their two competent witnesses, or if a party is deceased or missing.
