अग
1-1 .
रजिस्ट्रः सं ० डी ० 221
REGISTERED No. D. 221
(T)
भारत को राजपत्र The Gazette of India
मसाबाररण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग 2--खंड 1
PART I - Section r
प्राधिकार से प्रकाशित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
सं० 44
नई विल्ली , रविवार , अगरत 31 , 1969/भाद्रपद 9 , 1891
No. 44]
NEW DELHI , SUNDAY , AUGUST 31 , 1969 / BHADRA 9 , 1891
इस भाग मे भिन्न पृष्ठ संख्या वी जाप्त है जिससे कि यह डालग संकलन के रूप में रखा जा सके ।
Separate paging is given to this Part In order that it may be illed as a separate compilation
MINISTRY OF LAW
( Legislative Department )
New Delhi , the 31st August , 1969 / Bhadra 9 , 1891 ( Saka)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 31st August , 1969 , and is hereby published for general information : -
THE FOREIGN MARRIAGE ACT , 1969
No 33 OF 1969
[31st August , 1969 ]
An Act to make provision relating to marriages of citizens of India outside India .
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twentieth Year of the Republic of India as follows : -
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. This Act may be called the Foreign Marriage Act , 1969 .
Short title.
2 In this Act , unless the context otherwise requires ,-
Defini- tions .
(a) " degrees of prohibited relationship " shall have the same meaning as in the Special Marriage Act , 1954 ;
43 of 1954 ,
(339) THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II
(b ) " district " , in relation to a Marriage Officer , means the area within which the duties of his office are to be discharged;
(c) " foreign country " means a country or place outside India , and includes a ship which is for the time being in the territorial waters of such a country or place ;
(d) "Marriage Officer " means a person appointed under sec- tion 3 to be a Marriage Officer ;
( e) " official house " , in relation to a Marriage Officer , means-
(i ) the official house of residence of the officer ;
(ii) the office in which the business of the officer is transacted;
( iii ) a prescribed place ; and
( f ) " prescribed " means prescribed by rules made under this Act .
Marriage Officers .
3. For the purposes of this Act , the Central Government may , by notification in the Official Gazette , appoint such of its diplomatic or consular officers as it may think fit to be Marriage Officers for any foreign country .
Explanation . In this section , " diplomatic officer " means an ambassador , envoy , minister , high commissioner , commissioner , charge d' affaires or other diplomatic representative or a counsellor or secretary of an embassy , legation or high commission .
CHAPTER II
SOLEMNIZATION OF FOREIGN MARRIAGES
4. A marriage between parties one of whom at least is a citizen of India may be solemnized under this Act by or before a Marriage Officer in a foreign country , if, at the time of the marriage , the following conditions are fulfilled , namely : -
Conditions relating to solemni- zation of foreign marriages .
(a) neither party has a spouse living ,
(b ) neither party is an idiot or a lunatic ,
(c) the bridegroom has completed the age of twenty - one years and the bride the age of eighteen years at the time of the marriage , and
(d) the parties are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship :
Provided that where the personal law or a custom govern- ing at least one of the parties permits of a marriage between SEC . 11
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341
them, such marriage may be solemnized , notwithstanding that they are within the degrees of prohibited relationship .
5. When a marriage is intended to be solemnized under this Act , Notice of the parties to the marriage shall give notice thereof in writing in intended the form specified in the First Schedule to the Marriage Officer of marriage . the district in which at least one of the parties to the marriage has resided for a period of not less than thirty days immediately pre- ceding the date on which such notice is given , and the notice shall state that the party has so resided .
6. The Marriage Officer shall keep all notices given under section 5 Marriage with the records of his office and shall also forthwith enter a true Notice Book . copy of every such notice in a book prescribed for that purpose , be called the " Marriage Notice Book " , and such book shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times , without fee , by any person desirous of inspecting the same .
7. Where a notice under section 5 is given to the Marriage Officer , Publica- he shall cause it to be published-
tion of notice .
(a) in his own office , by affixing a copy thereof to a conspi- cuous place , and
(b) in India and in the country or countries in which the parties are ordinarily resident , in the prescribed manner .
8. ( 1 ) Any person may , before the expiration of thirty days from Objection the date of publication of the notice under section 7 , object to the to marriage on the ground that it would contravene one or more of marriage . the conditions specified in section 4.
Explanation . Where the publication of the notice by affixation under clause ( a ) of section 7 and in the prescribed manner under clause ( b ) of that section is on different dates , the period of thirty days shall , for the purposes of this sub - section , be computed from the later date .
(2) Every such objection shall be in writing signed by the person making it or by any person duly authorised to sign on his behalf , and shall state the ground of objection ; and the Marriage Officer shall record the nature of the objection in his Marriage Notice Book .
9. If no objection is made within the period specified in section 8 Solemni- to an intended marriage , then , on the expiry of that period , the zation of marriage may be solemnized .
marriage where no objection made .
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II 342
Procedure on receipt objection . of
10. ( 1 ) If an objection is made under section 8 to an intended marriage , the Marriage Officer shall not solemnize the marriage until he has inquired into the matter of the objection in such manner as he thinks fit and is satisfled that it ought not to prevent the solemni- zation of the marriage or the objection is withdrawn by the person making it .
( 2 ) Where a Marriage Officer after making any such inquiry entertains a doubt in respect of any objection , he shall transmit the record with such statement respecting the matter as he thinks fit to the Central Government ; and the Central Government , after making such further inquiry into the matter and after obtaining such advice as it thinks fit , shall give its decision thereon in writing to the Marriage Officer , who shall act in conformity with the decision of the Central Government .
11. ( 1 ) The Marriage Officer may , for reasons to be recorded in writing , refuse to solemnize a marriage under this Act if the intended marriage is prohibited by any law in force in the foreign country where it is to be solemnized .
Marriage not to be in contra- vention of local laws .
( 2 ) The Marriage Officer may , for reasons to be recorded in writing , refuse to solemnize a marriage under this Act on the ground that in his opinion , the solemnization of the marriage would be inconsistent with international law or the comity of nations .
(3) Where a Marriage Officer refuses to solemnize a marriage under this section , any party to the intended marriage may appeal to the Central Government in the prescribed manner within a period of thirty days from the date of such refusal ; and the Marriage Officer shall act in conformity with the decision of the Central Government on such appeal .
12. Before the marriage is solemnized , the parties and three witnesses shall , in the presence of the Marriage Officer , sign a declaration in the form specified in the Second Schedule , and the declaration shall be countersigned by the Marriage Officer .
Declara- tlon by parties and wit- nesses .
Place and form of solemni- zation,
13. ( 1 ) A marriage by or before a Marriage Officer under this Act shall be solemnized at the official house of the Marriage Officer with open doors between the prescribed hours in the presence of at least three witnesses .
(2) The marriage may be solemnized in any form which the parties may choose to adopt :
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SEC. 1 ]
343
Provided that it shall not be complete and binding on the parties unless each party declares to the other in the presence of the Marriage Officer and the three witnesses and in any language under- stood by the parties , " I , ( A) , take thee ( B ) , to be my lawful wife (or husband) " :
Provided further that where the declaration referred to in the preceding proviso is made in any language which is not understood by the Marriage Officer or by any of the witnesses , either of the parties shall interpret or cause to be interpreted the declaration in a language which the Marriage Officer or , as the case may be , such witness understands .
Certificate 14. ( 1 ) Whenever a marriage is solemnized under this Act , the Marriage Officer shall enter a certificate thereof in the form specified of mar- in the Third Schedule in a book to be kept by him for that purpose riage . and to be called the Marriage Certificate Book , and such certificate shall be signed by the parties to the marriage and the three witnesses .
(2) On a certificate being entered in the Marriage Certificate Book by the Marriage Officer , the certificate shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence of the fact that a marriage under this Act has been solemnized , and that all formalities respecting the residence of the party concerned previous to the marriage and the signatures of witnesses have been complied with .
15. Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act , a mar- Validity riage solemnized in the manner provided in this Act shall be good of foreign and valid in law .
marriages in India .
when marriage solemni- zed within months .
16. Whenever a marriage is not solemnized within six months New from the date on which notice thereof has been given to the Marriage notice Officer as required under section 5 or where the record of a case has been transmitted to the Central Government under section 10 , or not where an appeal has been preferred to the Central Government under section 11 , within three months from the date of decision of the Central Government in such case or appeal , as the case may be , the six notice and all other proceedings arising therefrom shall be deemed to have lapsed , and no Marriage Officer shall solemnize the marriage until new notice has been given in the manner laid down in this Act .
CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED UNDER
OTHER LAWS
17. ( 1 ) Where-
(a) a Marriage Officer is satisfied that a marriage has been duly solemnized in a foreign country in accordance with the law
Registra- tion of foreign mar- riages, THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II
344
of that country between parties of whom one at least was a citizen of India; and
(b ) a party to the marriage informs the Marriage Officer in writing that he or she desires the marriage to be registered under this section ,
the Marriage Officer may , upon payment of the register the marriage. fee,
(2) No marriage shall be registered under this section unless at the time of registration it satisfies the conditions mentioned in section 4 .
(3) The Marriage Officer may , for reasons to be recorded in writing, refuse to register a marriage under this section on the ground that in his opinion the marriage is inconsistent with inter- national law or the comity of nations .
(4) Where a Marriage Officer refuses to register a marriage under this section the party applying for registration may appeal to the Central Government in the prescribed manner within a period of thirty days from the date of such refusal ; and the Marriage Officer shall act in conformity with the decision of the Central Government on such appeal .
(5) Registration of a marriage under this section shall be effected by the Marriage Officer by entering a certificate of the marriage in the prescribed form and in the prescribed manner in the Marriage Certificate Book , and such certificate shall be signed by the parties to the marriage and by three witnesses .
(6) A marriage registered under this section shall , as from the date of registration , be deemed to have been solemnized under this Act .
CHAPTER IV
MATRIMONIAL RELIEF IN RESPECT OF FOREIGN MARRIAGES
43 of 1954 .
18. ( 1 ) Subject to the other provisions contained in this section , the provisions of Chapters IV , V , VI and VII of the Special Marriage Act , 1954 , shall apply in relation to marriages solemnized under this Act and to any other marriage solemnized in a foreign country bet- ween parties of whom one at least is a citizen of India as they apply In relation to marriages solemnized under that Act.
atrimo- al reliefs be ct , 1954. nder cial arriage THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY SEC. 1 ]
34 5
43 of 1954 .
Explanation . In its application to the marriages referred to in this sub - section, section 24 of the Special Marriage Act , 1954 , shall be subject to the following modifications , namely: -
(i) the reference in sub - section (1 ) thereof to clauses ( a) , (b ) , ( c ) and ( d) of section 4 of that Act shall be construed as a reference to clauses ( a ) , ( b ) , ( c ) and ( d) respectively of section 4 of this Act , and
(ii ) nothing contained in section 24 aforesaid shall apply to any marriage-
(a) which is not solemnized under this Act ; or
( b) which is deemed to be solemnized under this Act by reason of the provisions contained in section 17:
Provided that the registration of any such marriage as is referred to in sub - clause ( b ) may be declared to be of no effect if the regis- tration was in contravention of sub - section (2 ) of section 17.
43 of 1954 .
(2) Every petition for relief under Chapter V or Chapter VI of the Special Marriage Act , 1954 , as made applicable to the marriages referred to in sub - section ( 1 ) , shall be presented to the district court within the local limits of whose ordinary civil jurisdiction-
(a) the respondent is residing at the time of the presentation of the petition ; or
(b ) the husband and wife last resided together ; or
(c) the petitioner is residing at the time of the presenta tion of the petition , provided that the respondent is at that time residing outside India.
43 of 1954.
Explanation . In this section , " district court " has the same mean- ing as in the Special Marriage Act , 1954 .
(3 ) Nothing contained in this section shall authorise any court-
(a) to make any decree of dissolution of marriage , except where-
(i ) the parties to the marriage are domiciled in India at the time of the presentation of the petition ; or
( ii ) the petitioner , being the wife, was domiciled in India immediately before the marriage and has been resid- ing in India for a period of not less than three years im- mediately preceding the presentation of the petition ;
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II 346
(b) to make any decree annulling a voidable marriage , ex- cept where-
(i) the parties to the marriage are domiciled in India at the time of the presentation of the petition ; or
(ii ) the marriage was solemnized under this Act and the petitioner , being the wife , has been ordinarily resident in India for a period of three years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition;
(c) to make any decree of nullity of marriage in respect of a void marriage , except where
(i ) either of the parties to the marriage is domiciled in India at the time of the presentation of the petition , or
(ii ) the marriage was solemnized under this Act and the petitioner is residing in India at the time of the presentation of the petition ;
43 of 1954.
(d) to grant any other relief under Chapter V or Chapter VI of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 , except where the petitioner is residing in India at the time of the presentation of the petition .
43 of 1954, (4) Nothing contained in sub - section ( 1 ) shall authorise any court to grant any relief under this Act in relation to any marriage in a foreign country not solemnized under it , if the grant of relief in respect of such marriage (whether on any of the grounds specified in the Special Marriage Act , 1954 , or otherwise) is provided for under any other law for the time being in force .
CHAPTER V
PENALTIES
Punish- ment for bigamy.
45 of 1860, 19. ( 1 ) Any person whose marriage is solemnized or deemed to have been solemnized under this Act and who , during the subsistence of his marriage , contracts any other marriage in India shall be sub- ject to the penalties provided in section 494 and section 495 of the In- dian Penal Code and the marriage so contracted shall be void .
(2 ) The provisions of sub - section ( 1 ) apply also to any such offence committed by any citizen of India without and beyond India .
20. Any citizen of India who procures a marriage of himself or herself to be solemnized under this Act in contravention of the con- dition specified in clause ( c ) or clause ( d) of section 4 shall be punishable-
Punish- ment for contra- vention of certain other conditions for marriage.
(a) in the case of a contravention of the condition specified in clause ( c) of section 4 , with simple imprisonment which may extend to fifteen days or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees , or with both ; and SEC . 1 ]
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347
(b) in the case of a contravention of the condition specified in clause ( d) of section 4, with simple imprisonment which may extend to one month , or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees , or with both .
Punish- ment for false dec- 21. If any citizen of India for the purpose of procuring a marriage , intentionally- (a) where a declaration is required by this Act , makes a Jaration . false declaration ; or
(b ) where a notice or certificate is required by this Act , signs a false notice or certificate ;
he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine .
22. Any Marriage Officer who knowingly and wilfully solemnizes Punish- a marriage under this Act in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may wrong- extend to one year , or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees , or with both .
ment for ful action ofMar- riage Officer ,
CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS
23. If the Central Government is satisfied that the law in force in any foreign country for the solemnization of marriages contains pro- visions similar to those contained in this Act , it may , by notification in the Official Gazette , declare that marriages solemnized under the law in force in such foreign country shall be recognized by courts in India as valid .
mar- Recogni- tion of riages solemniz- ed under law of other countries.
24. ( 1 ) Where--
(a) a marriage is solemnized in any foreign country speci- fied in this behalf by the Central Government , by notification in the Official Gazette , in accordance with the law of that coun- try between parties of whom one at least is a citizen of India; and
(b) a party to the marriage who is such citizen produces to a Marriage Officer in the country in which the marriage was solemnized-
Certifi- cation of docu- ments of marriages solemnized in accor- dance with local law in a foreign country.
(i ) a copy of the entry in respect of the marriage in the marriage register of that country certified by the appro- priate authority in that country to be a true copy of that entry; and THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II 348
( ti) if the copy of that entry is not in the English language , a translation into the prescribed language of that copy; and
(c) the Marriage Officer is satisfied that the copy of the entry in the marriage register is a true copy and that the translation, if any , is a true translation ; the Marriage Officer , upon the payment of the prescribed fee , shall certify upon the copy that he is satisfied that the copy is a true copy of the entry in the marriage register and upon the translation that he is satisfied that the translation is a true translation of the copy and shall issue the copy and the translation to the said party.
(2 ) A document relating to a marriage in a foreign country issued under sub - section ( 1 ) shall be admitted in evidence in any proceedings as if it were a certificate duly issued by the appropriate authority of that country .
25. Every certified copy purporting to be signed by the Marriage Officer of an entry of a marriage in the Marriage Certificate Book shall be received in evidence without production or proof of the original .
Certified copy of entries to be evi- dence .
Согтес- tion of errors .
26. ( 1 ) Any Marriage Officer who discovers any error in the form or substance of any entry in the Marriage Certificate Book may , within one month next after the discovery of such error , in the presence of the persons married , or , in case of their death or absence , in the presence of two other witnesses , correct the error by entry in the margin without any alteration of the original entry and add thereto the date of such correction .
(2) Every correction made under this section shall be attested by the witnesses in whose presence it was made .
27. Nothing in this Act shall in any way affect the validity of a marriage solemnized in a foreign country otherwise than under this Act
28. ( 1 ) The Central Government may , by notification in the Official Gazette , make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act .
Act not to affect validity of mar- riages outside it . Powerto make rules.
(2) In particular , and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power , such rules may provide for all or any of the follow- ing matters , namely: -
(a) the duties and powers of Marriage Officers and their districts;
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
SEC. 1 ]
349
(b) the manner in which a Marriage Officer may hold any inquiry under this Act ;
(c) the manner in which notices of marriage shall be published;
(d) the places in which and the hours between which marriages under this Act may be solemnized ;
( e) the form and the manner in which any books required by or under this Act to be kept shall be maintained;
(f ) the form and manner in which certificates of marriages may be entered under sub - section ( 5) of section 17 ;
(g) the fees that may be levied for the performance of any duty imposed upon a Marriage Officer under this Act ;
(h) the authorities to which , the form in which and the intervals within which copies of entries in the Marriage Certi- ficate Book shall be sent , and , when corrections are made in the Marriage Certificate Book , the manner in which certificates of such corrections shall be sent to the authorities ;
( i ) the inspection of any books required to be kept under this Act and the furnishing of certified copies of entries therein;
(j ) the manner in which and the conditions subject to which any marriage may be recognized under section 23 ;
(k) any other matter which may be , or requires to be , prescribed.
(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions , and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made , the rule THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II 350
shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect , as the case may be ; so , however , that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule .
29. In the Special Marriage Act , 1954 ,-
Amend- ment of Act43 of 1954.
(a) in section 1 , in sub - section ( 2 ) , for the words " outside the said territories " , the words " in the State of Jammu and Kashmir " shall be substituted ;
(b ) in section 2 , clauses ( a ) and ( c) shall be omitted:
( c) in section 3 , for sub - section ( 2 ) , the following sub - sec- tion shall be substituted , namely:----
" ( 2) For the purposes of this Act , in its application to citizens of India domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are in the State of Jammu and Kashmir , the Central Government may , by notification in the Official Gazette , specify such officers of the Central Government as it may think fit to be the Marriage Officers for the State or any part thereof ." ;
(d) in section 4 , for clause ( e ) , the following clause shall be substituted , namely : -
" ( e) where the marriage is solemnized in the State of Jammu and Kashmir , both parties are citizens of India domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends . " ;
(e) in section 10 , for the words " outside the territories to which this Act extends in respect of an intended marriage outside the said territories " , the words "in the State of Jammu and Kashmir in respect of an intended marriage in the State " shall be substituted ;
(f) in section 50 , in sub - section ( 1 ) , the words "diplomatic and consular officers and other " shall be omitted.
Repcal .
30. The Indian Foreign Marriage Act , 1903 , is hereby repealed .
14 of 1903 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
SEC . 1 ]
351
THE FIRST SCHEDULE
(See section 5 )
FORM OF NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE
To
The Marriage Officer
for...
We hereby give you notice that a marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act , 1969 is intended to be solemnized between us within three months from the date hereof .
Condition
Осси- pation
Date of barth
Name and father's name
A.B. Unnarried
Widower
Divorcee
C.D. Unmarried
Widow
Divorcee
Dwell- ing place
Length of residence in the Present dwelling place Permanent dwelling placeand present dwelling place if not permanent
day of ..
Witness our hands , this .........
19 .
Sd . A.B.
Sd . C.D.
THE SECOND SCHEDULE
(See section 12 )
DECLARATION TO BE MADE BY THE BRIDEGROOM
I, A.B. , hereby declare as follows: -
1. I am at the present time unmarried ( or a widower or a divorcee, as the case may be).
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II 352
2. I have completed ... years of age .
3. I am not related to C.D. ( the bride) within the degrees of prohibited relationship .
4. I am a citizen of.......
(to be filled up)
5. I am aware that , if any statement in this declaration is false , I am liable to imprisonment and also to fine .
Sd . A.B. ( the bridegroom) DECLARATION TO BE MADE BY THE BRIDE
I , C.D. , hereby declare as follows :-
1. I am at the present time unmarried ( or a widow , or a divorcee , as the case may be ) .
2. I have completed . years of age .
3. I am not related to A.B. ( the bridegroom ) within the degrees of prohibited relationship .
4. I am a citizen of
(to be filled up )
5. I am aware that , if any statement in this declaration is false , I am liable to imprisonment and also to fine .
Sd. C.D. ( the bride )
Signed in our presence by the above named A.B. and C.D. So far as we are aware , there is no lawful impediment to the marriage .
Sd . G.H.
Sd . I.J.
Three witnesses .
}
Sd . K.L.
(Countersigned ) E.F.
Marriage Officer
Dated the ...
19 .
............ day of ..
THE THIRD SCHEDULE
}
(See section 14)
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
19 .
I , E.F , hereby certify that on the day of ... A.B. and C.D. * appeared before me and that the declaration required by section . ......... t of the Foreign
*Herein give particulars of the parties .
To I entered .
SEC . 1 ]
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
353
== Marriage Act , 1969 , was duly made , and that a marriage under that Act was solemnized between them in my presence and in the presence of three witnesses who have signed hereunder .
Sd. E.F.
Marriage Officer .
Sd . A.B. ( bridegroom )
Sd . C.D. ( bride )
Sd. G.H.
Three witnesses .
Sd. I.J.
Sd . K. L.
Dated the . day of . 19 ....
N. P. D. NANBOODIRIPAD , Joint Secy . to the Govt . of India .
PRINTED IN INDIA BY THE GENERAL MANAGER , GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS . MINTO ROAD NEW DELHI AND PUBLISHED BY THE MANAGER OF PUBLICATIONS , DELICT , 1969