The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 (ICMA) — Bare Act, All Sections & Free PDF
भारतीय ईसाई विवाह अधिनियम, 1872
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Overview
Enacted in 1872, the Indian Christian Marriage Act legally governs the solemnization of marriages among Christians in India. Its purpose is to provide a statutory framework for licensing ministers and registering marriages. Applicable nationwide, this legislation establishes strict procedural rules for diverse marriage ceremonies, ensuring legal validity, preventing unauthorized unions, and maintaining official public records of Christian matrimonial alliances today.
1872 में लागू, भारतीय ईसाई विवाह अधिनियम भारत में ईसाइयों के विवाह को नियंत्रित करता है। इसका उद्देश्य पादरियों को लाइसेंस देने और पंजीकरण हेतु विधिक ढांचा प्रदान करना है। यह देशव्यापी अधिनियम समारोहों के लिए सख्त नियम बनाता है, जिससे विधिक वैधता मिलती है, अनधिकृत संघों को रोका जाता है, और वैवाहिक रिकॉर्ड आज पूर्ण रूप से सुरक्षित हैं।
What is ICMA
The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 is a central legislation that legally governs the solemnization and registration of marriages within the Christian community in India. Officially enforced on July 18, 1872, this Act did not replace a prior statute but established the first formal legal framework for Christian matrimonial procedures.
Its primary objective is to ensure that Christian marriages are conducted by authorized individuals, including licensed ministers of religion, priests, or marriage registrars, in strict compliance with statutory requirements. The Act details specific procedures depending on whether the marriage is solemnized in a church, by a licensed minister, or by a marriage registrar.
It mandates the presence of witnesses and proper certification of the marriage to grant it absolute legal validity. By setting rules for licensing ministers and issuing marriage certificates, the Act prevents fraudulent marriages, protects legal rights of spouses, and maintains official public records of Christian matrimonial unions.
Explanation
The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 provides a detailed legal framework spanning fifteen parts and numerous sections. Its scope exclusively applies to Christians in India, regulating the legal formalities of solemnization and certification of marriages. Key provisions categorize marriages based on who solemnizes them, such as licensed ministers, priests of specified churches, or secular marriage registrars.
The Act mandates the issuance of formal certificates and the maintenance of public marriage registers. A significant structural change occurred through the Indian Christian Marriage Amendment Act, 2001, which removed archaic colonial-era procedures and streamlined the licensing process for ministers.
This amendment introduced provisions for transferring marriage registers between jurisdictions, ensuring better administrative efficiency. Companion laws, the Indian Divorce Act, 1869, heavily intersect with this legislation. While the 1872 Act governs solemnization and registration, the Divorce Act exclusively dictates the grounds for dissolving these marriages.
Sections (Showing 1 to 10 of 88)
Section 1 to Section 10 (10 Sections)
Short title.
This Act may be called the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872. Extent. 1 [It extends to the whole of India 2 [except 3 [the territories which, immediately before the 1st November,...
[Repealed.].
[Enactments repealed.]—Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1938 (1 of 1938), s. 2 and the Schedule.
Interpretation-clause.
In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,-- "Church of England" "Anglican".-- mean and apply to the Church of England as by law established; "Chur...
Marriages to be solemnized according to Act.
Every marriage between persons, one or both of whom is 1 [or are] a Christian or Christians, shall be solemnized in accordance with the provisions of the next following section; an...
Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized.
Marriages may be solemnized in 1 [India]-- (1) by any person who has received episcopal ordination, provided that the marriage be solemnized according to the rules, rites, ceremoni...
Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages.
1 [ Grant and revocation of licenses to solemnize marriages .--The State Government, so far as regards the territories under its administration, 2 *** may, by notification in the O...
Marriage Registrars.
The State Government may appoint one or more Christians, either by name or as holding any office for the time being, to be the Marriage Registrar or Marriage Registrars for any dis...
[Omitted.].
[Marriage Registrars in Indian States.]—Omitted by the A. O. 1950.
Licensing of persons to grant certificates of marriage between Indian Christians.
The State Government 2 * * * may grant a license to any Christian, either by name or as holding any office for the time being, authorizing him to grant certificates of marriage bet...
Time for solemnizing marriage.
Every marriage under this Act shall be solemnized between the hours of six in the morning and seven in the evening: Exceptions. Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to...
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