The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA) is a landmark legislation in India that governs marriage, divorce, judicial separation, and other matrimonial matters for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.
The HMA comprises 30 sections without chapters. The outline of key sections is as follows:
| Sections | Title |
|---|---|
| Section 1 | Short title and extent |
| Section 5 | Conditions for a Hindu marriage |
| Section 7 | Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage |
| Section 8 | Registration of Hindu marriages |
| Section 10 | Judicial separation |
| Section 13 | Divorce |
| Section 15 | Divorced persons when may marry again |
| Section 24 | Maintenance pendente lite and expenses of proceedings |
| Section 25 | Permanent alimony and maintenance |
The HMA aims to regulate Hindu marriages and provide legal remedies for matrimonial disputes. Key provisions include:
The HMA, 1955 is a legislation governing marriage, divorce, judicial separation, and other matrimonial matters for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs in India.
The HMA was enacted on May 18, 1955, and came into force on the same day.
The main objectives include regulating Hindu marriages, providing grounds for divorce, and ensuring legal remedies for matrimonial disputes.
Section 5 outlines conditions for a valid Hindu marriage, including that both parties must be Hindus, of sound mind, and meet age requirements.
Section 13 lists grounds including adultery, cruelty, desertion for two years, conversion to another religion, or mental disorder.
Section 10 allows judicial separation on grounds like cruelty or desertion, enabling spouses to live apart without dissolving the marriage.
Yes, Section 24 and Section 25 provide for maintenance pendente lite and permanent maintenance, respectively, based on court discretion.
Section 8 allows for voluntary registration of Hindu marriages with the state government to provide legal proof of marriage.
Yes, Section 15 permits remarriage after a divorce decree is finalized, provided no appeal is pending.
The full text is available on websites like indialawacts.in or official government legal repositories like India Code .
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The following sections are sourced from the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. This information is for educational purposes only; verify with official sources (e.g., India Code) for legal use. We are not liable for errors or consequences from use.