Special Marriage Act, 1954

The Special Marriage Act, 1954
Parliament of India
  • An Act to provide a special form of marriage on certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other marriages and for divorce.
CitationNo.43 of 1954
Enacted byParliament of India
Assented to9 October 1954
Commenced1 January 1955
Status: In force

The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for secular civil marriage (or "registered marriage") for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrelevant of the religion or faith followed (both for inter-religious couples and also for atheists and agnostics) by either party.[1] The Act originated from a piece of legislation proposed during the late 19th century. Marriages solemnized under Special Marriage Act are not governed by personal laws and is considered to be secular.[2]

  1. ^ "Special Marriage Act - Special Marriage Act 1954, Special Marriage Laws In India". I Love India. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  2. ^ "'Marriages under Special Marriage Act not governed by personal laws'". The Hindu. 29 March 2018.