Syllabus section: Polity

 

Why in News?

The Allahabad High Court recently ruled that couples planning to marry under the Special Marriage Act shall choose not to publish a thirty-day notice before registering their marriage.

About:

• According to the judgment, the provisions of the act invade the fundamental rights of liberty and privacy.

• That is, putting a prior notice that provides the details of the bride and groom invades their privacy.

 

Special Marriage Act, 1954

It is an act that was enacted to provide a special form of marriage in certain cases. This includes validating and registering interreligious and inter-caste marriages. The three main objectives of

 

Special Marriage act are as follows:

• To provide registration for certain special marriages

• To provide a special form of marriage in certain cases

• To provide divorce

 

Conditions in Special Marriage Act, 1954

The conditions under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 are as follows:

• The marriage should be monogamous for both the partners.

• The bride should have attained the age of 18 years and the groom should be at least 21 years old.

• Both the parties should be competent in regard to their mental capacity to give consent for the marriage.

 

Source: The Hindu